The H-2 Honey Bee, which took six months and $12,000 to build, and first flew in 1987. After flying it for 120 hours, he sold it for $15,000. At the same time, he had completed a second H-2 in a record time of four months. Like his other air-craft, the H-2 was designed around the powerplant, in this case, a 40-hp Rotax 447 turning a 68 x 28 Shettler wooden propeller.

The spunky little bipe features a 6½-inch-thick airfoil that was designed by Howland. The equal-span wings have ailerons on the bottom pair only. The leading edge spar is a D-cell of 0.040 2024-T3 web capped with double 0.040 angles, the rear spar is of similar materials in a C-section. The wing ribs, seven per wing panel, plus four in the 28-inch centre section, are of 0.020 2024-T3 sheet metal [only on first H-2].

The fuselage is a welded truss structure made of ¾-inch square 6061-T6 tubing.

Howland' says he prefers to use square tubing because of its structural strength. However, he did concede and use round 6061-T6 tubing in the tail section. The entire plane is covered with Ceconite 7600.

Wingspan of both wings is 19 feet, and chord is 4 feet, resulting in a total wing area of 152 square feet. Wing gap is 3 feet 11 inches, and N-struts are made of l-inch-diameter 0.083-wall 6061-T6 tubing. Flying and landing wires and tail braces are stainless steel. The full-span, 1-foot-chord ailerons move 20° up and down, and the 7-foot-span, l8-inch-chord elevators deflect 25° up and down. The rudder has a 30° left and right movement.

The landing gear legs are V-shaped and consist of 1-inch aluminium tubes containing 1½-inch-long, 5/8-inch-diameter, 4130 heavy-duty die spring shock absorbers and Hegar wheels with hydraulic brakes and 4.00 x 6 tires.

The steerable tailwheel system has a Gleason polyurethane wheel and 5-inch tire capable of absorbing 450 pounds of pressure~ Gear tread is 5 feet, and the wheelbase, 10 feet 9 inches.

The fuselage of the H-2 is 16 feet 6 inches long. The cockpit is 22 inches wide, but it easily accommodates a 6-foot 3-inch, 23O-pound pilot. Layout is straightforward and typically ultra-light-Spartan, with a hand-pull starter for the Rotax. A 5-gallon fuel tank is located just ahead of the cockpit, and a turtledeck/headrest is just behind.