Company type | Privately held company |
---|---|
Industry | Aerospace, automotive manufacturing, boat building and general engineering |
Founded | mid-1970s |
Headquarters | , |
Products | Kit aircraft |
Website | lightwing |
Howard Hughes Engineering Pty Ltd is an Australian aircraft manufacturer, boat and automobile builder and general engineering company based in Ballina, New South Wales. [1]
The company specializes in the design and manufacture of light aircraft in the form of kits for amateur construction and ready-to-fly aircraft for the European Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight and the American light-sport aircraft categories. [1]
Australian Lightwing is an aircraft brand of Howard Hughes Engineering. [1]
The company was formed in the mid-1970s as a boat building and general engineering concern, based in West Ballina. In 1985 the company expanded into aircraft design, as a result of the new ultralight aircraft rules enacted in Australia. The first aircraft design, the Australian LightWing GR532, was first accepted by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority on 29 September 1986. Working in welded 4130 steel tubing, the company offered an alternative to the aluminium and Dacron sailcloth ultralights then being produced. [2]
In 1995 the company relocated to the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport industrial park. [2]
The company has produced a wide range of aircraft, including the high-wing GR 532 GR 582, GR912, Pocket Rocket, ALW Sport and Tapis, the low-wing two-seat SP-2000 Speed, four seat SP-4000 Speed and the low or high-wing SP-6000. There is also a biplane design the PR BiPe and the PR Breeze parasol wing. [1] [3] [4]
The SP-2000 has been accepted by the US Federal Aviation Administration as a light-sport aircraft. [1] [5]
The company has also entered electric car design with the three-seat Hughes Engineering Road-e. [3]
Other products include a flight simulator, the Hughes Engineering Cunning Cat 30 ft (9 m) sailboat and a CAD/CAM Cutting Table. The company has also developed computer software, including a telephone messaging system and a business costing and payroll program. [6]
Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
---|---|---|---|
Australian Lightwing GR 532 | Two-seat high-wing ultralight aircraft | ||
Australian Lightwing GR 582 | Two-seat high-wing light-sport aircraft | ||
Australian Lightwing GR 912 | Two-seat high-wing light-sport aircraft | ||
Australian Lightwing SP-2000 Speed | Two-seat low-wing, light-sport aircraft | ||
Australian Lightwing SP-4000 Speed | Four-seat low-wing kit aircraft | ||
Australian Lightwing SP-6000 | Six-seat high or low-wing kit aircraft | ||
Australian Lightwing Pocket Rocket | enclosed cabin single-seat high-wing aircraft | ||
Australian Lightwing PR BiPe | open cockpit biplane | ||
Australian Lightwing PR Breeze | single-seat parasol-wing kit aircraft | ||
Australian Lightwing Tapis | Two-seat high-wing kit aircraft | ||
Australian Lightwing ALW Sport | Two-seat high-wing kit aircraft | ||
Ultralight aviation is the flying of lightweight, 1- or 2-seat fixed-wing aircraft. Some countries differentiate between weight-shift control and conventional three-axis control aircraft with ailerons, elevator and rudder, calling the former "microlight" and the latter "ultralight".
Jabiru Aircraft Pty Ltd is an Australian aircraft manufacturer that produces a range of kit- and ready-built civil light aircraft in Bundaberg, Queensland. The company also designs and manufactures a range of light aircraft engines. Types past and present include microlights, including the Calypso, two-seat trainers and recreational aircraft and four-seat aircraft (J400/J430/J450).
The Aero Adventure Aventura is a family of ultralight amphibians marketed as a kit aircraft by Aero Adventure of DeLand, Florida. The aircraft was designed by Bob Bailey in 1995.
Quicksilver is a line of single and two-place high wing, single-engine, ultralight aircraft that evolved from weight-shift hang gliders including Bob Lovejoy's High Tailer.
The Progressive Aerodyne SeaRey is an American two-seat, single-engine, amphibious flying boat designed and manufactured by Progressive Aerodyne originally in Orlando, Florida, and now in Tavares, Florida. It was first flown in November 1992 and is sold as a kit aircraft for amateur construction as well as a light-sport aircraft.
The Quad City Challenger is a family of one and two seats-in-tandem, pusher configuration, tricycle landing gear ultralight aircraft that is designed and produced by Quad City Aircraft Corporation of Moline, Illinois. The Challenger was first introduced in 1983.
The SportStar and EuroStar are a family of a two-seat, light sport aircraft (LSA), manufactured by Evektor-Aerotechnik of Czechia and powered by a Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower (75 kW) engine.
The CGS Hawk is a family of high wing, strut-braced, pusher configuration, single and two-seats-in-tandem ultralight aircraft, designed by Chuck Slusarczyk and manufactured by CGS Aviation.
The Ultravia Pelican is the name given to two series of high-wing, single-engine, tractor configuration ultralight aircraft that were designed by Jean Rene Lepage and produced in kit form for amateur construction by Ultravia Aero International of Mascouche, Quebec and later Gatineau, Quebec.
The Blue Yonder Merlin is a Canadian-designed and -built two-seat, high-wing monoplane with taildragger undercarriage. It can be built as a basic ultra-light, an advanced ultra-light or amateur-built aircraft.
The Denney Kitfox is a series of small side-by-side, two-seat, high-wing, single engine kit aircraft, designed and originally manufactured by Dan Denney and his company Denney Aerocraft of Boise, Idaho. The aircraft is amateur-built and not type-certified. Over 4500 kits have been delivered in 42 countries.
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.
The Alpi Pioneer 300 is an Italian ultralight and light-sport aircraft, designed and produced by Alpi Aviation, of Pordenone. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.
The Australian Lightwing SP-2000 Speed is an Australian light-sport aircraft, designed and produced by Australian Lightwing of Ballina, New South Wales. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.
The Australian Lightwing SP-6000 was an Australian kit aircraft under development by Australian Lightwing of Ballina, New South Wales. The aircraft was intended to be supplied as a kit for amateur construction.
The VL-3 Evolution also called the Aveko VL-3 Sprint is a Czech ultralight aircraft, designed and initially produced by Aveko of Brno. The design is now produced by JMB Aircraft of Choceň. The aircraft was originally supplied by Aveko complete ready-to-fly, but is now owner-completed through a factory assistance program.
Australian Aircraft Kits Pty Ltd is an Australian aircraft manufacturer based in Taree, New South Wales, that was established in 2003. The company principal is Ole Hartmann.
ATEC v.o.s. is a Czech aircraft manufacturer, founded in 1992 and based in Libice nad Cidlinou. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of ultralight aircraft in the form of kits for amateur construction as well as ready-to-fly aircraft for the European Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight and the American light-sport aircraft categories.
Tomark s.r.o. is a Slovak aircraft manufacturer based in Prešov and founded in 1995. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of ready-to-fly ultralight aircraft.
Charles William "Bill" Whitney is an Australian Aeronautical Engineer who has designed numerous light, very light and replica aircraft types, as well as making a number of contributions to the development of very light / recreational aircraft and aircraft safety.