Birdman Atlas

Atlas
General information
Type	Ultralight aircraft
National origin	Canada
Manufacturer	Birdman Enterprises
Designer	Bob Lovejoy
Status	Production completed
Number built	more than 500 [1]
History
Introduction date	1980 [2]
Developed from	Eipper Quicksilver

The Birdman Atlas is a single-seat, high wing, single engine in pusher configuration, ultralight aircraft that was based upon the Eipper Quicksilver design. ^{[2] [3]}

Development

The Atlas was introduced to the marketplace in 1980. Production was curtailed in about 1983 as the company concentrated on producing the newer Birdman WT-11 Chinook instead. ^[2]

The Atlas was a development of the Quicksilver and as such incorporated many of the Quicksilver's features, such as a 6061-T6 aluminum-framed, single-surface Dacron-covered, wire-braced high wing, with the ground wires suspended from a kingpost. The fuselage structure was also built from 6061-T6 aluminum tube. ^[3]

The early Atlas XC variants used weight shift for control supplemented with a rudder, whereas the later 3-A versions (for 3-Axis) utilized a conventional control system with elevator and rudder, and spoilers for roll control. ^[3]

Variants

Atlas 215 XC

Foot-launchable single place ultralight powered by a 20 hp (15 kW) 215 cc single cylinder Cuyuna 215 engine. Control system is weight shift, plus rudder. Landing gear includes a shimmy-damped, shock-absorbing tailwheel unit. Available in kit form. ^[3]

Atlas 250 XC

Foot-launchable single place ultralight powered by a 25 hp (19 kW) 250 cc twin cylinder Rotax engine. Control system is weight shift, plus rudder. Landing gear includes a shimmy-damped, shock-absorbing tailwheel unit. Available in kit form. ^[3]

Atlas 215 3-A

Non-foot-launchable single place ultralight powered by a 20 hp (15 kW) 215 cc single cylinder Cuyuna 215 engine. Conventional three-axis control system utilizing spoilers for roll-control. Seat is adjustable fore and aft for balance. Due to company concerns about rigging requirements it was only supplied as a completed aircraft. ^[3]

Atlas 250 3-A

Non-foot-launchable single place ultralight powered by a 25 hp (19 kW) 250 cc twin cylinder Rotax engine. Conventional three-axis control system utilizing spoilers for roll-control. Due to company concerns about rigging requirements it was only supplied as a completed aircraft. ^[3]

Specifications (Atlas 215 3-A)

Data from Janes All the Worlds Aircraft 1982-83 ^[3]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Length: 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m)
• Wingspan: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
• Wing area: 160 sq ft (15 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 6.4
• Empty weight: 208 lb (94 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 475 lb (215 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 2.8 US gallons (13 litres)
• Powerplant: 1 × Cuyuna 215 two stroke snowmobile engine, 20 hp (15 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed pusher propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 46 mph (74 km/h, 40 kn)
• Cruise speed: 41 mph (66 km/h, 36 kn)
• Stall speed: 20 mph (32 km/h, 17 kn)
• Range: 85 mi (137 km, 74 nmi)
• Endurance: 3 hours 6 minutes
• Rate of climb: 350 ft/min (1.8 m/s) at 2400 feet (732 m) with 150 lb (68 kg) pilot
• Wing loading: 3.1 lb/sq ft (15 kg/m²)

See also

• Aviation portal

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Eipper Quicksilver

References

1. Taylor, John WR, Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1987-88 page 544, Janes Publishing Limited.
2. Jones, Terry: Birdman WT-11 Chinook - A Cabin-Class "Ultra" Lightplane. Birdman Enterprises, 1984.
3. Taylor, John WR: Janes All the Worlds Aircraft 1982-83 page 625-626, Janes Publishing Company, 1982. ISBN   0-7106-0748-2