Piper PA-8

Last updated
PA-8 Skycycle
Role Light aircraft
Manufacturer Piper Aircraft
DesignerA. Hanford Eckman [1]
First flight 1945
Number built2
Variants Carlson Skycycle

The Piper PA-8 Skycycle was a 1940s American single-seat light aircraft designed and built by Piper Aircraft at their Lock Haven, Pennsylvania plant. Towards the end of 1944 Piper announced a number of aircraft it intended to build after the war. One of these was the PWA-8 (Post War Airplane 8). An aerodynamic test aircraft was built with the name Cub Cycle and it first flew on 27 August 1944 with a small two–cylinder Franklin engine. The Franklin engine was replaced by a four–cylinder Continental A-40-3 of 37 hp (28 kW); the aircraft first flew with the Continental engine on 12 September 1944. The Skycycle was a fabric-covered mid-wing single-engined single-seat monoplane with a tailwheel landing gear. The fuselage was produced using an auxiliary belly fuel tank as used on the F4U Corsair. The Cub Cycle was scrapped and a similar but new aircraft was built with the name Skycycle, which first flew on 29 January 1945 using the same Continental engine as the Cub Cycle. The aircraft was further modified in 1945 with a four-cylinder 55 hp (41 kW) Lycoming O-145-A2 engine and designated the PA-8 Skycycle. No further examples were built.

Contents

A replica of the PA-8 Skycycle, the Carlson Skycycle, was built in 1995 by Ernst W. Carlson and produced by Carlson Aircraft of East Palestine, Ohio. Carlson intended to sell the aircraft in kit form, but no orders were forthcoming and the prototype was donated to the Piper Aviation Museum, since the original PA-8 was no longer in existence. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Specifications (PA-8)

Data from [5]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft with the same name:

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fisher FP-202 Koala</span> Canadian ultralight aircraft

The Fisher FP-202 Koala is a Canadian single-seat high wing, conventional landing gear, single engined light kit aircraft designed for construction by amateur builders. The aircraft was inspired by the design of the Piper J-3 Cub and strongly resembles that design.

The Fisher Super Koala is a two-seat, high wing, conventional landing gear, single-engined, light kit aircraft designed for construction by amateur builders. The aircraft was inspired by the design of the Piper J-3 Cub and strongly resembles that design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fisher Celebrity</span> Canadian ultralight aircraft

The Fisher Celebrity is a Canadian two-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, United States but the company is now located in Dorchester, Ontario, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preceptor N3 Pup</span> American kit aircraft

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 Light Miniature Aircraft LM-5 series is a family of American high-wing, conventional landing gear, strut-braced, single-engine ultralight aircraft that are intended to resemble the Piper PA-18 Super Cub. The designs are all available as plans from Light Miniature Aircraft of Okeechobee, Florida for amateur construction.

The RagWing RW19 Stork is a family of two-seat, high wing, strut-braced, conventional landing gear, single-engine homebuilt aircraft designed by Roger Mann and sold as plans by RagWing Aircraft Designs for amateur construction.

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.

The Carlson Skycycle is an American, single-seat, low-wing, single-engine, homebuilt aircraft that was originally designed by A. Hanford Eckman in 1945 and re-designed as a replica by Ernst W. Carlson and produced by Carlson Aircraft of East Palestine, Ohio in kit form. The prototype was completed in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlson Aircraft</span> American aircraft manufacturer

Carlson Aircraft is an American aircraft design and manufacturing company based in East Palestine, Ohio.

<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">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.

The Howland H-3 Pegasus is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Bert Howland and made available by Howland Aero Design in the form of plans for amateur construction, with kits provided by Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. The H-3 first flew in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Partenair Mystere</span> Canadian homebuilt light aircraft

The Partenair Mystere is a Canadian two-seat, pusher configuration monoplane that was designed by Partenair Design of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec and intended for amateur construction from kits.

The Lookout Mountain SkyCycle, also marketed as The Freedom Machine, is an American ultralight trike that was designed by Matt Taber, produced by Lookout Mountain Flight Park of Rising Fawn, Georgia and introduced in 1997. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction and also as plans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Backcountry Super Cubs Super Cub</span> American homebuilt aircraft

The Backcountry Super Cubs Super Cub, also referred to as the Supercub replica, is an American amateur-built aircraft, designed and produced by Backcountry Super Cubs of Douglas, Wyoming. The aircraft is based on the design of the Piper PA-18 Super Cub and is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The ARV Griffin is a Canadian homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Dave Marsden of the University of Alberta and produced by Canada Air RV and later by AC Millennium Corp, both of Edmonton. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, p. 138. BAI Communications. ISBN   0-9636409-4-1
  2. Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, p. 42. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  3. Downey, Julia: 2001 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 12, December 2000, p. 39. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851
  4. Downey, Julia: 2002 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 18, Number 12, December 2001, p. 30. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851
  5. Peperell/Smith 1987, pp. 47-53
Bibliography