The Legal Eagle features an open cockpit and is powered by a 30 hp (22 kW) Half VW engine.[1][7] As of 2023, the Legal Eagle and Legal Eagle XL can alternatively be powered by a 23 hp (17 kW) Briggs and Stratton Vanguard engine.[8]
The design features a fuselage of welded 4130 steel tubing, mated to an all-wood wing made from spruce (and derived from the Mini-MAX).[2] The struts and tail surfaces are made from 6061 T6 aluminium tubing. The flying surfaces are covered with doped aircraft fabric. The rear fuselage is normally left as an open truss structure to save weight and to ensure that the aircraft does not exceed the FAR 103 maximum speed of 55 knots (102 km/h; 63 mph). Like the fuselage, the taildragger landing gear is sprung steel.[1][4] Additional plans were released that would allow Legal Eagle and Legal Eagle XL planes to be modified to allow wing-folding within 30 minutes.[9][10]
The aircraft has been developed into several variants of the basic design including the XL version for larger pilots and a two-seat ultralight trainer and light-sport aircraft.[7][11][12][2]
Variants
Legal Eagle
Legal Eagle
Basic model with a 244 lb (111 kg) empty weight, powered by a 30 hp (22 kW) Half VW engine or 23 hp (17 kW) Briggs and Stratton Vanguard engine. [1][6][7][13][14]
Legal Eagle XL
Model for larger pilots with a wider and taller seat, greater wing area and longer tail. 246 lb (112 kg) empty weight[6][7][11]
Double Eagle
Model with two seats in side-by-side configuration with a 385 lb (175 kg) empty weight and a 900 lb (408 kg) gross weight. Designed as an ultralight trainer and Light Sport Aircraft. Powered by a 60 hp (45 kW) Volkswagen air-cooled engine giving a 70 mph (113 km/h) cruise speed.[6][7][12][13]
Specifications (Legal Eagle)
Data from Cliche, Better Half VW and Kitplanes[1][5][13][15]
General characteristics
Crew: one
Length: 13 ft 0 in (3.96 m)
Wingspan: 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m)
Height: 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Wing area: 107 sq ft (9.9 m2)
Empty weight: 244 lb (111 kg)
Gross weight: 500 lb (227 kg)
Fuel capacity: 5 US gallons (19 litres)
Powerplant: 1 × Half VW horizontally opposed twin-cylinder, four-stroke, single ignition aircraft engine, 30 hp (22 kW)
