Hovey Delta Bird

Last updated

Delta Bird
Darwin 1921.jpg
Hovey Delta Bird at the Darwin Aviation Museum
Role Ultralight aircraft
National origin United States
Designer Bob Hovey
Introduction1982
StatusProduction completed
Developed from Hovey Whing Ding II

The Hovey Delta Bird is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Bob Hovey in 1982 and supplied as plans for amateur construction. [1] [2]

Contents

Design and development

The aircraft was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 218 lb (99 kg). It features a biplane wing configuration, a single-seat, open cockpit, conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration. [1]

The aircraft is made from pop-riveted and gusseted aluminum tubing, with the wings and tail surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric covering. Its biplane wing has a top span of 24 ft (7.3 m), a bottom span of 20.3 ft (6.2 m), employs cabane struts and one set of interplane struts. The controls are conventional three-axis, with full-span ailerons on the top wing. The landing gear is bungee suspended and includes main wheel brakes and tailwheel steering. Common engines used include the 30 hp (22 kW) Cuyuna 430R in the Delta Bird and the 40 hp (30 kW) Kawasaki 440 in the Delta Hawk. [1]

Variants

Delta Bird
Base model, an open cockpit design, with the pilot's seat mounted to the main keel tube. [1] [2]
Delta Hawk
Model with conventional fabric-covered fuselage, 248 lb (112 kg) empty weight and 445 lb (202 kg) gross weight. [1] [2]
Super Delta Hawk
Model with sheet aluminum covered fuselage. [2]

Specifications (Delta Bird)

Data fromCliche and Virtual Ultralight Museum [1] [2]

General characteristics

Performance

Related Research Articles

The Wings of Freedom Flitplane is an American single-seat, high-wing, single-engine ultralight aircraft that is available as a kit aircraft or as plans for amateur construction from Wings of Freedom of Hubbard, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fisher FP-404</span> Canadian homebuilt light aircraft

The Fisher FP-404 is a Canadian single-seat, conventional landing gear, single-engined biplane kit aircraft designed for construction by amateur builders. Fisher Flying Products was originally based in Edgeley, North Dakota, USA but the company is now located in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada.

The Kolb Ultrastar is an American single seat, high wing, strut-braced, single engine, pusher configuration, conventional landing gear-equipped ultralight aircraft that was produced in kit form by Kolb Aircraft of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania and intended for amateur construction.

The Airborne Avenger is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed and produced by Airborne Wing Design in the early 1980s. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Brock Avion is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed and produced by Ken Brock Manufacturing, a company usually noted for its gyroplanes. The Avion was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Robertson B1-RD is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Glen Bashforth and Bruce Bashforth and produced by the Robertson Aircraft Corporation. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction with production starting in June 1982.

The International Ultralight Banchee is an American ultralight aircraft designed by Brian Jensen, Gil Kinzie and Nick Nichols and produced by International Ultralight Aviation. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Worldwide Ultralite Clipper is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed and produced by Worldwide Ultralite Industries of Katy, Texas in the early 1980s. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Striplin Lone Ranger is a family of American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Ken Striplin. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Mathews PUP, also called the P.U.P., is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Lyle Mathews in 1983 and made available in the form of plans for amateur construction.

The Chandelle Mk IV is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Nile Downer and produced by Chandelle Aircraft. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Meadowlark Ultralight Meadowlark is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Jim Higgs and produced by the Meadowlark Ultralight Corporation. The Meadowlark was supplied only as a factory completed aircraft.

The Mitchell Wing P-38, also called the Lightning, is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Jim Mead and produced by Mitchell Aircraft Corporation. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Paup P-Craft is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by D. Paup and produced by Paup Aircraft, introduced in 1982. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Eastern Ultralights Snoop is a family of American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Bob Able and produced by Eastern Ultralights, starting in 1981. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Star Flight Starfire is the first aircraft in a large family of American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Dick Turner and produced by Star Flight Manufacturing, introduced in 1979. The aircraft were all supplied as kits for amateur construction.

The Ultra-Fab Sundowner, also called the Sundowner Convertible, is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Bob Leinen and produced by Ultra-Fab. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Theiss Speedster is an American Homebuilt ultralight biplane that was designed and produced by Theiss Aviation of Salem, Ohio. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a quick-build kit for amateur construction.

The Vintage Ultralight SR-1 Hornet is an American homebuilt aircraft produced by the Vintage Ultralight and Lightplane Association of Marietta, Georgia, introduced in the early 1980s. The aircraft was supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction, although plans are no longer available.

The Vancil Spitz S1 is an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed and produced by A. Vancil of Belton, South Carolina, introduced in the late 1990s. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit and also in the form of plans for amateur construction.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page E-12 Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN   0-9680628-1-4
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Virtual Ultralight Museum (n.d.). "Delta Bird" . Retrieved November 7, 2011.