Connie Amphibious ultralight aircraft, Connie Amphibious experimental aircraft, Connie Amphibious experimental light sport aircraft (ELSA), Light Sport Aircraft Pilot News newsmagazine.


Light Sport Aircraft Pilot is a directory of aircraft that generally fit into what are described as ultralight aircraft, advanced ultralight aircraft, light sport aircraft, experimental light sport aircraft, experimental aircraft, amateur built aircraft, ELSA or homebuilt aircraft in the United States and Canada. These include weight shift aircraft, more commonly known as trikes, powered parachutes, and powered para-gliders.

Light Sport Aircraft Pilot

Connie Amphibious Index

Connie Amphibious Pictures

Connie Amphibious Video

Connie Amphibious ultralight, experimental lightsport, amateur built aircraft.

Manufacturer - Bob Bailey
Quest Air Soaring Center
6548 Groveland Airport Road
Groveland, FL 34736 

I first met Bob Bailey in the early 80's. He was working for Highcraft Aeromarine who were producing the Buccaneer Amphibian XA.

While Bobby was not the designer of the Buc, in my opinion if it were not for him the design would never have come to market.

He took the "concept or idea" of an amphibious ultralight and made it come to life. Every time there was a problem Bobby came up with a fix, every time a tool was needed he would design and build it. Not only was he helping design and build the plane, but he was also "the chief cook and bottle washer," if you were a customer you didn't waste your time talking to the "owners" - to get the real story you went looking for Bobby.

Since the XA Bobby has been involved in a number of other designs including the Buccaneer 2, The Buccaneer SX, and Carrera series of aircraft.

His heart and sole though has always been hang gliding. To that end he developed his "Dragonfly" and it's tow system for launching hang gliders. When he decided he wanted better performance than a hang glider would give him - he designed a number of "ultralight gliders" which could be towed up behind the Dragonfly.

While traveling through Florida prior to Sun N Fun looking for a motor home I came across an airfield just north of Orlando. I dropped in just to see what it was all about and low an behold there was Bobby, working away on his latest design - the Connie!

Russ Brown seated, Bob Bailey standing with the Connie!

The Connie is an amphibious single center float ultralight, with wing tip floats on the wings. It uses the same style of wing used on Bobby's glider, and features a main aluminum boom tube like the Dragonfly.

The pilot sits in front of the wing, in a seat on top of the float. The single lever retract system retracts the two main wheels and the tail wheel in one quick and easy motion.

Bobby reports a climb rate using the 447 Rotax engine of over 1,000 feet per minute with a cruise of 55 mph at 5200 rpm, stall comes in at 25 mph.  Controls are standard stick and rudder with a center mounted stick and left hand throttle. 

The Connie uses bolt and rivet together construction, covered in dacron sail cloth, with estimated building times in the 100 hour range.

Connie Amphibious ultralight aircraft, Connie Amphibious experimental aircraft, Connie Amphibious experimental light sport aircraft (ELSA), Light Sport Aircraft Pilot News newsmagazine.
Connie Amphibious ultralight - experimental lightsport aircraft

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Connie Amphibious Index

Connie Amphibious Pictures

Connie Amphibious Video

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