Milholland Legal Eagle | |
---|---|
Role | Ultralight aircraft |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Better Half VW |
Designer | Leonard Milholland |
Introduction | 1998 |
Status | Plans available |
Number built | Legal Eagle - over 100 (as of 2011) Double Eagle - 6 (as of 2011) |
The Milholland Legal Eagle is an American high wing, strut-braced, single engine, tractor configuration, conventional landing gear-equipped ultralight aircraft that is available as plans from Better Half VW of Brookshire, Texas, and is intended for amateur construction. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
The Legal Eagle is so named because it is capable of being built in compliance with the United States FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles regulations, even when equipped with a four-stroke engine. [1] [7]
The Legal Eagle features an open cockpit and is powered by a 30 hp (22 kW) Half VW engine. [1] [7] As of 2023, the Legal Eagle and Legal Eagle XL can alternatively be powered by a 23 hp (17 kW) Briggs and Stratton Vanguard engine. [8]
The design features a fuselage of welded 4130 steel tubing, mated to an all-wood wing made from spruce (and derived from the Mini-MAX). [2] The struts and tail surfaces are made from 6061 T6 aluminium tubing. The flying surfaces are covered with doped aircraft fabric. The rear fuselage is normally left as an open truss structure to save weight and to ensure that the aircraft does not exceed the FAR 103 maximum speed of 55 knots (102 km/h; 63 mph). Like the fuselage, the taildragger landing gear is sprung steel. [1] [4] Additional plans were released that would allow Legal Eagle and Legal Eagle XL planes to be modified to allow wing-folding within 30 minutes. [9] [10]
The aircraft has been developed into several variants of the basic design including the XL version for larger pilots and a two-seat ultralight trainer and light-sport aircraft. [7] [11] [12] [2]
Data from Cliche, Better Half VW and Kitplanes [1] [5] [13] [15]
General characteristics
Performance
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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 UltraFlight Lazair is a family of Canadian designed and built twin-engine ultralight aircraft that were sold in kit form between 1979 and 1984.
The ISON Airbike and Tandem Airbike are a family of American high-wing, tractor configuration ultralight aircraft, that were available in kit form. The single-seat Airbike was introduced in 1994 and the two-seat Tandem Airbike was unveiled in 1996.
The Avenger is a single-seat, Canadian low-wing, tractor configuration ultralight aircraft. The Avenger was introduced in 1994 and is available as a kit or as plans from Fisher Flying Products.
The Beaujon Enduro is a single-seat, American high-wing, pusher configuration ultralight aircraft. The Enduro was introduced in 1978 and remains available as plans from Beaujon Aircraft of Ardmore, Oklahoma.
The Adams CA-2 is a single seat, low-wing, American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Frank Griffith of Corning Aircraft around 1992 and was available as plans for amateur construction until 1999. In 1999, Hummel Aviation of Bryan, Ohio began offering the design. Although the design was well received, plans were no longer listed as being available from Hummel Aviation as of 2007.
The Fisher FP-303 is a Canadian single-seat, low wing, conventional landing gear, single engined light 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 Fisher FP-606 Sky Baby is a Canadian single-seat, conventional landing gear or tricycle landing gear-equipped, single-engined, high-wing monoplane kit aircraft designed for construction by amateur builders. Fisher Flying Products was originally based in Edgeley, North Dakota, United States, but the company is now located in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada.
The Fisher Classic is a Canadian two-seat, conventional landing gear, single-engined, biplane kit aircraft designed for construction by amateur builders. The aircraft is a two-seat derivation of the Fisher FP-404. Fisher Flying Products was originally based in Edgeley, North Dakota, USA but the company is now located in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada.
The Fisher Horizon is a family of Canadian two-seats-in-tandem, conventional landing gear, single-engined, high-wing monoplane kit aircraft designed for construction by amateur builders. The Horizon 1 was inspired by the Aeronca Champion and its later version, the Bellanca Citabria, while the Horizon 2 was inspired by the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog.
The Preceptor N3 Pup is a family of ultralight, tube-and-fabric, high-wing, homebuilt aircraft. Kits were produced and marketed by Preceptor Aircraft, of Rutherfordton, North Carolina. The company was operating on a limited basis, actively selling plans online, but seems to have gone out of business in 2016.
The Hy-Tek Hurricane 103 is a family of single-engined, high wing tricycle gear-equipped aircraft that were available in kit form from Hy-Tek Hurricane of Aurora, Oregon.
The Capella Javelin is a family of American open cockpit, high wing, tractor configuration, conventional landing gear-equipped ultralight aircraft that were produced in kit form by Capella Aircraft of Austin, Texas and intended for amateur construction.
The Kolb Firefly is an American open cockpit, single seat, high wing, pusher configuration, conventional landing gear-equipped ultralight aircraft that is produced in kit form by New Kolb Aircraft of London, Kentucky and intended for amateur construction. The aircraft was designed in 1995.
The Kolb Kolbra and King Kolbra are a family of American tandem two seater, high wing, strut-braced, pusher configuration, conventional landing gear-equipped ultralight aircraft that are produced in kit form by New Kolb Aircraft of London, Kentucky and intended for amateur construction.
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 Pop's Props Pinocchio is a single seat, open-cockpit, mid-wing, single-engine monoplane that was inspired by the Fokker Eindecker and first flown in 1994. The aircraft was produced by Pop's Props of Cooksville, Illinois and made available as plans or in kit form. The company is no longer in business and the aircraft kit is no longer available.
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 RagWing RW4 Midwing Sport is a single seat, strut-braced mid wing, single engine ultralight aircraft designed by Roger Mann and sold as plans by RagWing Aircraft Designs for amateur construction.
The St Croix Excelsior is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Chad Wille and Charles Wille, produced by St Croix Aircraft of Corning, Iowa and first flown in 1980. The aircraft was supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction with some hard-to-make parts available as well as partial kits.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: year (link)