Thor T/A

T/A
Role	Ultralight aircraft
National origin	Canada
Manufacturer	Thor Air
Designer	Thorsten B. Strenger (or possibly Gunter Webster)
Introduction	1985
Status	Production completed

Last updated January 23, 2022

The Thor T/A is a Canadian ultralight aircraft that was designed by Thorsten B. Strenger (or possibly Gunter Webster) and produced by Thor Air of Weston, Ontario. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.^[1]^[2]

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 238 lb (108 kg). It features a strut-braced high-wing, a single-seat, open cockpit, conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.^[1]^[2]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its flying surfaces covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 80% double-surface 32.3 ft (9.8 m) span wing is braced with "V" lift struts. The pilot is accommodated on an open seat, protected by a simple windshield. The landing gear has suspension on the main wheels and features a steerable tailwheel. The three axis control system is unusual. Pitch and roll are conventionally controlled with elevator and rudder, while roll is controlled with tip rudders.^[1]^[2]

Variants

T/A: Initial design, powered by a 28 hp (21 kW) Rotax 277 single cylinder, two-stroke powerplant.^[1]
1-A: Up-engined model, powered by a 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447 twin cylinder, two-stroke powerplant.^[1]
Two-seater: Similar to the single-seat models but with a second seat for dual instruction.^[1]

Specifications (T/A)

Data from Cliche and the Virtual Ultralight Museum^[1]^[2]

General characteristics

Crew: one
Length: 13.8 ft (4.2 m)
Wingspan: 32 ft 4 in (9.86 m)
Height: 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m)
Wing area: 167 sq ft (15.5 m²)
Empty weight: 238 lb (108 kg)
Gross weight: 500 lb (227 kg)
Fuel capacity: 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal)
Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 277 single cylinder, two-stroke aircraft engine, 28 hp (21 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 63 mph (101 km/h, 55 kn)
Cruise speed: 55 mph (89 km/h, 48 kn)
Stall speed: 22 mph (35 km/h, 19 kn)
Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,000 m)
g limits: +3/-2
Maximum glide ratio: 9:1
Rate of climb: 700 ft/min (3.6 m/s)

Related Research Articles

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 InterPlane Griffon is a single seat, high wing, single engine, pusher configuration, tricycle gear ultralight aircraft, that was produced in kit form from InterPlane Aircraft of Zbraslavice, Czech Republic.

The Joplin Tundra is a family of Canadian, high-wing, strut-braced, pusher configuration ultralight aircraft that was originally produced by Back Forty Developments of Campbellford, Ontario, Canada and later by Joplin Light Aircraft of Joplin, Missouri and Laron Aviation of Borger, Texas for amateur construction. The aircraft is out of production.

The Aerotique Parasol is an American parasol-wing, strut-braced, conventional landing gear, single-seat, open cockpit, single engine in tractor configuration, ultralight aircraft that was designed as an ultralight version of the 1926 vintage Heath Parasol. It was originally produced by Yesteryear Aviation and later by Aerotique Aviation. The aircraft was supplied as factory-built only.

The Aircore Cadet is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Jim Scott and produced by Aircore Industries in the early 1980s. 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 Teman Mono-Fly is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by structural engineer Bob Teman and produced by Teman Aircraft Inc. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction and later as a factory-completed aircraft.

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 Rotec Panther is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed and produced by Rotec Engineering, introduced in 1984. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Worldwide Ultralite Spitfire is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Fred Bell and manufactured by Worldwide Ultralite Industries and later by Don Ecker and Air Magic Ultralights of Houston, Texas. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The V-STOL Solution is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Dick Turner in 1998 and produced by V-STOL Aircraft. The aircraft was supplied as a kit 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 Teratorn T/A is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed and produced by Teratorn Aircraft. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Mountaineer Trikes Mite-Lite is a family of American flying wing ultralight trikes that was designed and produced by Mountaineer Trikes. The aircraft were supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The North Wing Maverick is an American single-seat ultralight trike designed and produced by North Wing Design of East Wenatchee, Washington. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The North Wing Apache is an American two-seat ultralight trike designed and produced by North Wing Design of East Wenatchee, Washington. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The TC's Trikes Coyote is an American ultralight trike that was designed by TC Blyth and produced by TC's Trikes of Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee. Originally known as the TC Trike, with the introduction of strut-braced Mustang wing the model became known as the Coyote.

The Apollo Delta Jet is a Hungarian ultralight trike, designed and produced by Apollo Ultralight Aircraft of Eger. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

The Apollo Jet Star is a Hungarian ultralight trike, designed and produced by Apollo Ultralight Aircraft of Eger. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page E-41. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
1 2 3 4 Virtual Ultralight Museum. "Thor T/A". Archived from the original on 7 May 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2012.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[Cliche-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page E-41. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4

[VUM-2] 1 2 3 4 Virtual Ultralight Museum. "Thor T/A". Archived from the original on 7 May 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2012.

[1]

[2]