International Ultralight Banchee

Last updated
Banchee
Role Ultralight aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer International Ultralight Aviation
DesignerBrian Jensen, Gil Kinzie and Nick Nichols
StatusProduction completed
Unit cost
US$5,495 [1]

The International Ultralight Banchee (also called the Banshee) 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. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Design and development

The aircraft closely resembles the Pterodactyl Ptraveler, [1] and, like the Pterodactyl, 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 Banchee has a standard empty weight of 251 lb (114 kg). It features a cable-braced high-wing, single-seat, open cockpit, single pusher engine configuration, and is equipped with tricycle landing gear. [2]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with the wing covered with Dacron sailcloth. Its 34 ft (10.4 m) span wing is cable-braced from an inverted "V" kingpost, has 4° of dihedral and 15° of sweepback. The three-axis control system is unconventional, [1] with pitch controlled by an all-flying canard, yaw by wingtip rudders and roll by spoilerons, [2] all actuated by a single side-stick, the aircraft lacking rudder pedals. [1] The cockpit is an open sling seat without a windshield. The tricycle landing gear features suspension on all wheels. The Cuyuna 430R engine is mounted behind the pilot and can produce 35 hp (26 kW) at 6250 rpm. [2]

A ballistic parachute was available as an option, as was an electric starter; the company claimed that the Banchee could be rigged in 35 minutes. [1]

Accidents and incidents

On 21 May 1983 during a demonstration flight at St. George, Utah a Banchee suffered a cable swaging failure at an altitude of 50 to 60 ft (15 to 18 m) that resulted in one fatality. The US National Transportation Safety Board cited the probable causes as improper maintenance and quality assurance on the part of the manufacturer. [3] The company went out of business shortly after the accident. [2]

Specifications (Banchee)

Data from Cliche [2]

General characteristics

Performance

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Berger, Alain-Yves and Norman Burr: Berger-Burr's Ultralight and Microlight Aircraft of the World, Volume 16, page 199. Haynes Publishing Group, 1983. ISBN   0-85429-390-6
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page E-4. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN   0-9680628-1-4
  3. 1 2 National Transportation Safety Board (21 May 1983). "DEN83LU001" . Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  4. ↑ Virtual Ultralight Museum (n.d.). "Banchee" . Retrieved 28 December 2012.
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