At 18:07 on July 30th this year, Yang Weimin's wife congratulated him with a kiss.
In March this year, Yang Weimin's plane underwent its first trial assembly.
At 17:49 on July 30th this year, the plane circled in the air above the runway.
At 18:05 on July 30th this year, at Shawan Baomo Park, Yang Weimin safely landed the plane he was piloting.
It took two years and cost 100,000 yuan. Yang Weimin, a photographer living in Xixiang Street of Bao'an District, spent two years turning the airplane he had drawn on paper into reality (this was reported by our newspaper on April 25th this year). Recently, his self-made ultralight aircraft "Little Horse" made its maiden flight in Shenzhen, flying for 25 minutes at an altitude of 400 meters before landing safely. The president of an American homemade aircraft manufacturer also participated in the maiden flight and described the work as nearly perfect.
Video: A Shenzhen photographer builds his own ultralight aircraft to soar in the blue sky
All materials were purchased from abroad
Yang Weimin has been fascinated by model aircraft making since he was young, chasing his childhood dream of flying. In 2007, he began making a manned aircraft. To determine the aircraft model and review relevant materials, just the preparatory work alone took half a year. In the end, he chose a mature and highly popular model. There are over 3,500 of this model of homemade aircraft flying around the world, with good flight safety records. It has government safety certifications in Germany and the UK and the highest number of units in the US.
After determining the model, Yang Weimin contacted an American manufacturer to purchase blueprints and raw materials, costing less than 100,000 RMB. Yang Weimin said that all the aircraft materials were selected from legitimate aviation materials and strictly produced according to the blueprint and aviation requirements. He turned his living room into a factory, personally making all aircraft parts except for the engine, propeller, wheels, and flight instruments.
The American manufacturer participates in the test flight and praises it as "perfect"
At around 4 PM on July 30th, Yang Weimin successfully took off with his self-made ultralight aircraft "Little Horse" from an unopened road at the boundary between Shenzhen and Huizhou. After flying for 25 minutes at an altitude of 400 meters, the plane touched down once and then flew again, completing four circles in the air before finally landing safely, successfully completing its maiden flight.
Among the many spectators present, one American visitor held a particularly special identity. He was Mr. Dave Trump, the boss of JDTmini-Max ultralight aircraft company. Before takeoff, he checked the preparation status of the aircraft together with Yang Weimin. After the successful maiden flight, Dave Trump personally piloted the aircraft to take off again. "This is the most beautiful mini-Max I have ever seen, extremely precise in production, with excellent flight performance, almost perfect," he said. This same model of homemade aircraft has over 3,500 units flying around the world, with good flight safety records. It has government safety certifications in Germany and the UK and the highest number of units in the US. But in China, Yang Weimin is the first person to purchase this model and successfully complete the maiden flight.
The designer of Yang Weimin's aircraft (blueprint provider) is Mr. Wayne Ison, a famous American ultralight aircraft designer. To honor Wayne Ison's contributions to the ultralight aircraft field and because he designed this safe, cheap, and well-performing aircraft, the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) in the US invited him into the Aircraft Designer Hall of Fame.
Yang Weimin:
Considering mass production
According to domestic regulations regarding ultralight aircraft, there is no need for a qualification review for the pilot, Shawan Baomo Park. Some citizens asked if this means anyone can build an aircraft and take off, realizing their dream of flying. Some citizens also questioned the safety of the aircraft. Yang Weimin said that one must first possess rich aviation knowledge and undergo related training and driving experience. Those new to homemade aircraft should not rashly design their own but rather choose a mature and highly popular model. Manufacturers and aircraft designers have tested and inspected the strength and load-bearing capacity of the aircraft body, and many people have already flown it, ensuring relatively reliable safety guarantees. A formal channel is a major guarantee for the successful test flight of an aircraft, as manufacturers and designers can provide experience and solutions when problems arise.
"As long as one seriously studies related knowledge and makes it with a scientific and rigorous attitude, an ordinary person can realize their dream of flying through their own hands." After the successful maiden flight, Yang Weimin said that he has already prepared to contact a factory for mass production, supervising the aircraft's production process. Because he already has successful experience in manufacturing and maiden flights, Yang Weimin said it would not take two years to produce another. Perhaps soon, there will be a fleet of homemade ultralight aircraft flying in Shenzhen's skies. (Reported by Toutiao reporter Guo Qiming, photos by correspondent Shi Jian and Toutiao reporter Zhao Yanxiong)
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