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erkki67
10-03-2011, 11:46 AM
I'm looking for the construction details or plans of the Aerotique Parasol.

Is ther anyone out there with knowlege about this bird?

Bst rgds from France

Erkki

WBNH
10-06-2011, 07:32 AM
Sorry no one has replied earlier. I'm not aware of a lot of detailed information available. Hopefully someone else will be able to help.

I recall VULA (the Vintage Ultralight Association) http://vula2.org/index.html used to have scans of a long article on the Aerotique Parasol. You may have already located this site yourself, as there isn't much else that comes up when you Google search Aerotique Parasol.

It was interesting. I believe the fuse was gussetted and riveted square aluminum tubing, and the whole truss structure weighed in at around 14 pounds, or something like that. I can't seem to get the links to work anymore, the site may now be defunct. There is contact information on the page, and maybe they can provide you the photos and scans of the article that used to be posted there.

Similarly, there's the Texas Parasol, which is gussetted and riveted aluminum angle instead of square tubing. There's more information available online for that...including the ability to download plans...

Good luck.

Mark Calder
10-13-2011, 09:43 AM
the guys who started Aerotique actually worked for me, and I'm afraid I dont know where they are at either. Roland Hostettler of Wichita Kansas may know. His father Duane was one of the designers.

erkki67
10-14-2011, 12:23 AM
Hello Mark

Do you have any contacting details of MR. Roland Hostettler?

I just made a quick web search and coudn't find him.

Bst rgds Erkki
:cool:

Mark Calder
10-14-2011, 05:49 AM
No I do not, He used to live in Wichita. His father Duane, lived in a 1965 Ford Econoline van!! He would travel all over the Midwest hiring himself out to do aircraft restorations. The man was an incredible craftsman. I lost track of everyone when I left Wichita in 1998. there was another Partner named Stan ..... His last name escapes me. But he actually used to work for me at Wren Aviation. Stan worked for many years for Dave Blanton Sr at Javelin Aircraft. Maybe thats enough info to do a Google search.

The Aerotique was a beautiful design, very light and designed around classic lines and construction.

Dick Rake
10-28-2011, 04:01 PM
Mark,
I used to have Maintenance done at Mid Coast Aviation in St. Louis, Mo. in the early 90's and there was a mechanic (Stan I think) that said he and someone else had designed and built the Aerotique. I can't remember his last name but he seemed to know a lot about the airplane.
Dick

erkki67
10-30-2011, 12:24 PM
Thank you folks :thumbsup::)

I've been reading in a older ultralightmagazin that two other gentlemen were involved in that project too a Mr. Bob Cowan and a Mr. Rich Kohm.

Any Ideas what happend to those?

Were to find them if still alive?

I'm going to see Jet Aviation, the new owners of the mentioned facilities in St.Louis, if they still have a emplyoiee with the first name Stan at St.Louis.

Bst rgds

Erkki

Mark Calder
10-31-2011, 05:40 AM
Mark,
I used to have Maintenance done at Mid Coast Aviation in St. Louis, Mo. in the early 90's and there was a mechanic (Stan I think) that said he and someone else had designed and built the Aerotique. I can't remember his last name but he seemed to know a lot about the airplane.
Dick

Thats the Stan I was thinking of. I believe he and Duane sold their interest to the two other gentlemen mentioned.

Mark Calder
11-03-2011, 05:51 AM
Stan Truman, Finally remembered his name. Duane Hostettler was the other designer. Duane was in pretty bad health in 1980, so I dont know how he would be doing today. Anyway, good luck trying to find those guys.

Mark

Bgcurtis
02-17-2012, 09:44 AM
I was the last plant manager for the construction of the Aerotique
Parasol, a fire on March 23 of 2011 destroyed all the plans and photos,
and complete building information for the Parasol, Tri-Star, and
Kestrel. Bob Cowan died from a gunshot wound to the head in 84 and was
listed as a suicide. I lost track of Stan Truman who walked away from
the company in 83. As far as I know the plans and layouts I had were all
that was left for the information on building the Parasol.

erkki67
02-18-2012, 02:37 AM
Hello bgcurtisThank you very much for responding to this thread.All what I have about the Aerotique Parasol is an article from the Ultralight flying magazine and some other kind of infos from the yahoo groups vula pages.I would have been more that happy, being able to build a replica of the AP, as I believe that it would still been attractive.Just too sad that this construction is disappearing.My very best regards from FranceErkki :-)

tejanodrv
04-26-2012, 02:32 PM
Hi Bgcurtis: You still have the plans and layouts? Is there any way I could see them or get a digital copy? The rectangle tube isn't readily available (that I can find) but I am trying to reverse engineer the Aerotique from pics and tongue in cheek. Any help? John

erkki67
04-28-2012, 03:27 AM
Too sad that everything was lost, as this bird is more then interessting.

Do you remember a few things about it's construction?

Bst rgds

Erkki

Dick Rake
07-27-2012, 12:14 PM
I found this on Craigslist. http://limaohio.craigslist.org/rvs/3146123824.html
The engine itself is interesting but the parasol airframe he mounted it to may be an Aerotque. At the end of the video it shows the construction of the airframe.

Bill Ladd
07-27-2012, 03:32 PM
I found this on Craigslist. http://limaohio.craigslist.org/rvs/3146123824.html
The engine itself is interesting but the parasol airframe he mounted it to may be an Aerotque. At the end of the video it shows the construction of the airframe.

Think that might be a Graham Lee Heath Parasol.

erkki67
07-29-2012, 02:55 AM
Hello BGCurtis

As you said, that most probable you were the one that had the last building instructions of the Aerotique Parasol, which were the differences to the Heath Parasol?
What was the size of the fuselage tubing sections 3/4 x 1/2 .060 wall sections or was it more like .040?
The Gusset sections .040?
And how was the wing built up?
The tailvolume, which were the tubing dimensions?
The Landing gear, I suppose that it was built of 4130 and also here, which were the sections?

Bst rgds

Erkki

erkki67
05-27-2015, 02:27 PM
The thread is quiet old, but I'm still interested at this bird!

Ive found different pics of the Heath Parasol, but a one is missing a valuable view from the top!

does there exist such a view or even complete 3 views?

bst rgds
Erkki

hogflyer
06-17-2015, 08:01 PM
erkki67,

If you find out any more information on the Aerotique Parasol, please keep this thread alive and post it here.

I remember talking with Roland Hostettler in depth on the Aerotique Parasol back in the early 90's when I was in Wichita. I knew him through the CAF when I was active with them at that time. Roland was the one who did the covering/painting and I believe some of the wood work. He did fantastic covering and paint work. When I moved back to St. Louis I took a trip on a Saturday out to the Adventures Aloft Airport in Jonesburg, MO but they were closed. I did see in the hanger several fuselage's standing on their noses and some production tooling. The last time I saw the prototype Aerotique Parasol was in a hanger in the Greenville Airport in Greenville, Ill in the mid 90's. It was in very poor condition on flat tires - it was so dirty it was evident it had not been flown in many years. Very sad to see since I remember seeing it at Sun-N-Sun in 1984. I have a couple of pictures of it at Sun-N-Fun, and I think a couple of ultralight magazines from the 1980's stashed away in storage with articles on it. My guess is the plane is no longer around at this point in time.

Hogflyer

erkki67
06-28-2015, 12:09 PM
Hmm, I went to google maps, and did have a look on the Adventure Aloft Airport, it looks completely shut down.

the Hangars are still there, but I doubt that there are any leftovers of the parasol in there.

erkki

MADean
08-18-2015, 04:28 AM
Wikipedia has a listing for the Aerotique Parasol, with a few photos; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerotique_Parasol

Dick Rake
10-04-2015, 03:18 PM
I'm looking for the construction details or plans of the Aerotique Parasol.

Is ther anyone out there with knowlege about this bird?

Bst rgds from France

Erkki

Here's a one hour long video about the history of Ultralights and it shows the original Aerotique Parasol at about the 40 minute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyyBnhuzmt4&feature=em-subs_digest

shortstan
04-26-2016, 08:42 AM
Greetings to all,

My name is stanley truman and I'm the one of the original owners and designers of the Aerotique Parasol. The aircraft is still around and is hanging in my garage with wings off of it. At one time we were going to sale the plans for it but was offered the opportunity to let somebody manufacture it and sell it as a completed aircraft. Well that didn't work out like we thought. That's is another story in itself called liability. Putting floats and tail wheels on aircraft in not just adding them without concerns of what happens to the aerodynamics of ANY aircraft.

Also I read here that Mark said I had worked for him which is not correct. I visited him when he was building his wren? But I did know Dave Blanton and I miss him a lot. Was a very talented man and taught me a lot about aircraft.

Anyway I'm still around and I'm retired now and have other interest. This whole aircraft thing kind of left a bad taste in my mouth about aviation and some of the people.


Stan

MADean
04-27-2016, 06:28 AM
Ive found different pics of the Heath Parasol, but a one is missing a valuable view from the top!
Does there exist such a view or even complete 3 views?

bst rgds
Erkki

The 1929 Flying and Glider Manual has plans & construction articles for the Heath Super Parasol. It's available from the EAA Gift shop for $6.95 (http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa-shop/2251634900000__1929-flying-and-glider-manual)

By the way... there are a total of 5 Flying & Glider Manuals available from EAA. 1929 ($6.95), 1930 ($5.95), 1931 ($6.95), 1932 ($3.95), 1933 ($3.95). You can buy the entire set for $29.95. Or purchase all 5, individually, for a totals of $27.75. (I don't think EAA fully understands the concept behind "package" deals. ;))

crusty old aviator
05-01-2016, 12:44 PM
That's a two dollar and twenty cent "convenience fee" for not having to list five different part numbers when ordering the whole set. If you had a MBA from Marquette, you'd know this and marvel at its genius...

Hey Stan, I'm sorry that you've been exposed to so many greedy dopes in aviation. I've been screwed over by many of them, but I just focus on my love for aviation and sharing my passion for it with whomever is truly interested in it. I ignore the opportunists and the dreamers. Do you still have a complete set of drawings and manuals that could be printed or scanned without a whole lot of hassle on your part? How much would someone have to pay you, up front, to make it worth your while? Would you consider selling the prototype hanging in your garage, and the manufacturing rights, or do you like having her hanging there as a reminder of why you got out of aviation? If that's the case, you're not alone!

Soft landings, Andy

erkki67
09-16-2018, 12:18 PM
Shortstan, I’ve been moving back to Switzerland, but my desire for a bird like the Aerotique Parasol remain. Do you have any pictures of the Parasol hanging below the roof?

almost more important, from which corner of the U S are you?

bst rgds from Switzerland

Erkki