Free Bird Innovations

Last updated

Free Bird Innovations, Inc.
Type Privately held company
Industry Aerospace
Foundedcirca 2003
Headquarters,
Key people
Engineer: Eric Grina
Products Kit aircraft
Website www.fly-fbi.com

Free Bird Innovations, Inc. is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and formed in about 2003. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of ultralight aircraft in the form of plans and kits for amateur construction and ready-to-fly aircraft in the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles category. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Contents

History

The two-seat Freebird II was introduced by the Freebird Airplane Company of Marshville, North Carolina at Sun 'n Fun in 1996. Two years later they brought out the single-seat Freebird I before going out of business. By 2000 both designs were being built by Pro Sport Aviation of Wingate, North Carolina, who also built a derivative single-seater, the Pro Sport Sportlite 103. [1]

Free Bird Innovations took over the Freebird I and II designs and by 2004 was producing three derivative models, the single-seat Free Bird Sportlite 103 kit aircraft for the US FAR 103 ultralight category and the Free Bird Sportlite SS and Free Bird Sportlite 2 two-seaters. In 2007, they were building three further developed models, the single-seat Free Bird LiteSport Ultra and the two-seat Free Bird LiteSport II and Free Bird LiteSport Classic and continued those models through 2011. The LiteSport II model had been dropped by 2012. [1] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Despite the LiteSport model name, none of the company's aircraft were ever listed by the US Federal Aviation Administration as light-sport aircraft. [9]

The company had been developing a new model, the Freebird 103, originally projected for introduction in 2011, as a single seat US FAR 103 ultralight aircraft with a design empty weight under 254 lb (115 kg). The project received a setback when the lead project engineer, Eric Grina, was killed in a car accident in October 2011. [6]

Aircraft

Summary of aircraft built by Free Bird Innovations and its predecessors
Model nameFirst flightNumber builtType
Freebird II 1996Single-seat ultralight aircraft produced by Freebird Airplane Company & Pro Sport Aviation
Freebird I 1998Two-seat ultralight aircraft produced by Freebird Airplane Company & Pro Sport Aviation
Free Bird Sportlite 103 by 2004Single-seat ultralight aircraft produced by Free Bird Innovations
Free Bird Sportlite SS by 2004Two-seat ultralight aircraft produced by Free Bird Innovations
Free Bird Sportlite 2 by 2004Two-seat ultralight aircraft produced by Free Bird Innovations
Free Bird LiteSport Ultra by 2007357 (2011)Single-seat ultralight aircraft produced by Free Bird Innovations
Free Bird LiteSport II by 2007352 (2011)Two-seat ultralight aircraft produced by Free Bird Innovations
Free Bird LiteSport Classic by 2007102 (2011)Two-seat ultralight aircraft produced by Free Bird Innovations
Free Bird 103 2011OneSingle-seat ultralight aircraft planned but never produced by Free Bird Innovations

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chotia Weedhopper</span> American ultralight airplane

The Weedhopper is an American high-wing, tractor configuration, tricycle gear, two-axis control ultralight aircraft originally developed by John Chotia during the height of the 1970s ultralight boom and introduced in 1977. When it was in production the aircraft was sold as a kit for amateur construction and could be assembled in 25-30 man-hours.

The Freebird I is an American single-seat, high wing, tricycle gear, single engined pusher configuration ultralight kit aircraft designed for construction by amateur builders by the Freebird Airplane Company of Marshville, North Carolina and later also produced by Pro Sport Aviation of Wingate, North Carolina.

The Freebird II is a family of American side-by-side two-seat, high wing, tricycle gear, pusher configuration single engined kit aircraft originally designed for construction by amateur builders by the Freebird Airplane Company of Marshville, North Carolina, and later Pro Sport Aviation of Wingate, North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rans S-12 Airaile</span> Type of aircraft

The Rans S-12 Airaile is a family of related American single-engined, pusher configuration, high-wing monoplanes designed by Randy Schlitter and manufactured by Rans Inc. The aircraft are available in kit form for amateur construction.

The Rocky Mountain Wings Ridge Runner is a family of American high wing, strut-braced, single engine, conventional landing gear aircraft that were designed by Stace Schrader and were produced by Rocky Mountain Wings of Nampa, Idaho for amateur construction from 2000 to 2018.

The Flying K Sky Raider is a family of American, high wing, strut-braced, single engine, conventional landing gear ultralight aircraft that was designed by Ken Schrader and produced by Flying K Enterprises and later Sky Raider LLC of Caldwell, Idaho for amateur construction.

The Loehle SPAD XIII is an American single-seat ultralight aircraft scale replica of the First World War SPAD XIII fighter produced in kit form by Loehle Aircraft for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlson Sparrow</span> Type of aircraft

The Carlson Sparrow is a family of American, high wing, strut-braced, single engine, ultralight aircraft that was designed by Ernst W. Carlson and produced by Carlson Aircraft of East Palestine, Ohio and later Skyline Technologies of Salem, Ohio for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Circle Air T-Bird</span> Type of aircraft

The Golden Circle Air T-Bird is a family of high-wing, strut-braced, pusher configuration ultralight aircraft that was produced by Teratorn Aircraft of Clear Lake, Iowa from 1983 to 1989 and then Golden Circle Air of De Soto, Iowa from 1989 until the mid-2000s. In 2011 the aircraft were back in production by Indy Aircraft. The aircraft is produced as a kit for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earthstar Thunder Gull</span> Type of aircraft

The Earthstar Thunder Gull is a family of cantilever high-wing, tricycle gear ultralight aircraft, manufactured by Earthstar Aircraft of Santa Margarita, California as a kit for amateur construction or as a completed aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Titan Tornado</span> American kit aircraft

The Titan Tornado is large family of cantilever high-wing, pusher configuration, tricycle gear-equipped kit aircraft manufactured by Titan Aircraft of Austinburg, Ohio, for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bailey-Moyes Dragonfly</span> Type of aircraft

The Bailey-Moyes Dragonfly is an Australian-American two-seats-in-tandem, high-wing, strut-braced, open cockpit, conventional landing gear-equipped ultralight aircraft. The aircraft has been in production since 1990 and was designed as a special-purpose tug for hang gliders and ultralight sailplanes. It is available as a complete aircraft or as a kit for amateur construction. The aircraft has been variously produced by Moyes Microlights, Bailey-Moyes Microlights and currently LiteFlite of Botany, New South Wales, all different iterations of the same company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SlipStream Genesis</span> Type of aircraft

The SlipStream Genesis is a family of American, strut-braced, high wing, pusher configuration, tricycle gear aircraft, produced in kit form, for amateur construction. Designed by Chuck Hamilton, the series were originally produced by Innovation Engineering of Davenport, Iowa and more recently by SlipStream International of Wautoma, Wisconsin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M-Squared Breese</span> Type of aircraft

The M-Squared Breese is a large family of high-wing, strut-braced, pusher configuration, tricycle gear, ultralight aircraft produced by M-Squared Aircraft of St. Elmo, Alabama in kit form, for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teratorn Aircraft</span> American ultralight airplane manufacturer

Teratorn Aircraft, Inc. was an American aircraft manufacturer based in Clear Lake, Iowa. The company specialized in the design and manufacture of ultralight aircraft in the form of kits for amateur construction and ready-to-fly aircraft under the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Circle Air</span> American aircraft manufacturer

Golden Circle Air, Inc. was an American aircraft manufacturer based in De Soto, Iowa. The company specialized in the manufacture of ultralight aircraft in the form of kits for amateur construction and ready-to-fly aircraft under the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indy Aircraft</span> American airplane manufacturer

Indy Aircraft Limited was an American aircraft manufacturer based in Independence, Iowa. The company specialized in the manufacture of ultralight aircraft in the form of kits for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moyes Microlights</span> Australian aircraft manufacturer

Moyes Microlights Pty Ltd is an Australian aircraft manufacturer that was based in Waverley, New South Wales and founded by hang gliding pioneer Bill Moyes. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of ultralight aircraft in the form of kits for amateur construction and ready-to-fly aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sorrell Aviation</span> American aircraft manufacturer

Sorrell Aviation was an American aircraft manufacturer based in Tenino, Washington, founded by Hobart C Sorrell and sons John, Mark and Tim in about 1958. The company specialized in the design and manufacture of light aircraft in the form of plans and kits for amateur construction including for the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CGS Aviation</span> American aircraft manufacturer

CGS Aviation, Inc. is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Grand Bay, Alabama. The company was founded by Chuck Slusarczyk in the early 1970s in Broadview Heights, Ohio as Chuck's Glider Supplies. Today it is run by Danny Dezauche and specializes in the design and manufacture of ultralight aircraft in the form of kits for amateur construction and ready-to-fly aircraft in the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules category.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page B-26, B-58 and B-81, Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN   0-9680628-1-4
  2. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 166. BAI Communications. ISBN   0-9636409-4-1
  3. 1 2 Downey, Julia: Kit Aircraft Directory 2005, Kitplanes, Volume 21, Number 12, December 2004, pages 59-60. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  4. 1 2 Downey, Julia: 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 53. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  5. 1 2 Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 55. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  6. 1 2 3 Free Bird Innovations (November 21, 2011). "Freebird 103". Archived from the original on January 4, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  7. 1 2 Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 56. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  8. 1 2 Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 56. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN   1368-485X
  9. Federal Aviation Administration (March 5, 2015). "SLSA Make/Model Directory". Archived from the original on May 16, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2015.