US Light Aircraft Hornet

Last updated

US Light Aircraft Hornet
Role Kit aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer US Light Aircraft Corporation
Higher Class Aviation
Oklahoma Light Aircraft
DesignerJim Millett [1]
First flight1993
Introduction1994
StatusProduction completed
Produced1994-circa 2008
Number built45 (2003) [2]

The US Light Aircraft Hornet is an American two-seats-in-tandem, pusher configuration, tricycle gear, strut-braced high wing ultralight aircraft, that was produced US Light Aircraft Corporation of Ramona, California between 1994 and circa 2008 in kit form for amateur construction. It was also available as a factory-completed light-sport aircraft. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Contents

After US Light Aircraft ceased production the design was taken up by Higher Class Aviation and then later Oklahoma Light Aircraft of Blackwell, Oklahoma, which reportedly had the Hornet in production in 2011. [9] By July 2012 Oklahoma Light Aircraft's website had been removed from the internet and the aircraft was no longer advertised as being for sale. [10]

Design and development

The Hornet was first introduced at Sun 'n Fun in 1994. Externally the aircraft greatly resembles the Quad City Challenger II, but internally the structure is very different. When it was available the Hornet was priced considerably higher than the Challenger II. [3]

The Hornet structure is built up from aluminium tubing, riveted together with gussets. The aircraft is then covered with doped aircraft fabric. The Hornet's wing incorporates dual bridge-section spars, with a single strut and V-jury struts. The wing was sandbag-tested to 7g without failure. The aircraft includes electric flaps and trim, dual controls and two wing-mounted fuel tanks. The landing gear incorporates pneumatic suspension on all three wheels, including the steerable nosewheel, and hydraulic brakes on the mainwheels. The Hornet can also be equipped with floats or skis. Early production aircraft experienced elevator flutter at speeds in excess of 100 mph (161 km/h) but this was addressed by mass-balancing the elevator. [3] [7] [11]

Reported construction times from the kit are 250–300 hours. [3] [5] [7]

Operational history

The Hornet won Grand Champion Light Plane at both Sun 'n Fun and AirVenture in 1995. [7]

Variants

Hornet
Base model, powered by a 55 hp (41 kW) Hirth 2703, or optionally the 65 hp (48 kW) Hirth 2706 engine. [3] [7] [8]
Super Hornet
Light sport model, fully assembled and powered by an 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912UL or optionally the 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS engine [12]

Specifications (Hornet)

Data from Cliche and Kitplanes [3] [5]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related Research Articles

The Advanced Aviation Explorer is a two-seat ultralight marketed in kit form, for amateur construction. It is a high-wing taildragger aircraft of pusher configuration with tandem seating.

<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.

The Fisher FP-505 Skeeter is a Canadian single-seat, conventional landing gear, single-engined parasol-wing monoplane 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CGS Hawk</span> Type of aircraft

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Excalibur Aircraft Excalibur</span> American ultralight airplane

The Excalibur is an American two seats-in-tandem, high wing, pusher configuration ultralight aircraft that is manufactured in kit form for amateur construction, by Excalibur Aircraft of Sebring, Florida. It was introduced in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sorrell Hiperlight</span> American ultralight biplane

The Sorrell Hiperlight is a family of single and two seat, negative stagger biplanes, designed for amateur construction.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flying K Sky Raider</span> Family of ultralight aircraft

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.

<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">Titan Tornado</span> American kit aircraft

The Titan Tornado is large family of cantilever high-wing, pusher configuration, tricycle gear-equipped kit aircraft manufactured by Titan Aircraft of Austinburg, Ohio, for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bailey-Moyes Dragonfly</span> Type of aircraft

The Bailey-Moyes Dragonfly is an Australian-American two-seats-in-tandem, high-wing, strut-braced, open cockpit, conventional landing gear-equipped ultralight aircraft. The aircraft has been in production since 1990 and was designed as a special-purpose tug for hang gliders and ultralight sailplanes. It is available as a complete aircraft or as a kit for amateur construction. The aircraft has been variously produced by Moyes Microlights, Bailey-Moyes Microlights and currently LiteFlite of Botany, New South Wales, all different iterations of the same company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falconar Golden Hawk</span> Canadian homebuilt light aircraft

The Falconar Golden Hawk is a Canadian tandem seat, pusher configuration, tricycle gear, canard-equipped ultralight aircraft that is offered in kit form by Falconar Avia of Edmonton, Alberta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quicksilver GT500</span> American ultralight aircraft

The Quicksilver GT500 is a family of American strut-braced, high-wing, pusher configuration, tricycle gear aircraft built by Quicksilver Aeronautics of Temecula, California. The aircraft is available as a kit for amateur construction or as a completed ready-to-fly 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 Arnet Pereyra Sabre II is an American, two-seats in side-by-side configuration, conventional landing gear-equipped, strut-braced, high-wing ultralight trainer that was produced by Arnet Pereyra Inc of Rockledge, Florida in kit form for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M-Squared Breese</span> Type of aircraft

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 TeST TST-3 Alpin T is a Czech shoulder-wing, T-tailed, single-seat glider and motor glider that was designed and produced by TeST of Brno.

References

  1. 1 2 Downey, Julia: 2002 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 18, Number 12, December 2001, page 71 & 85. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN   0891-1851
  2. 1 2 Newby-Gonzalez, Tori: 2004 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 20, Number 12, December 2003, page 80. Belvoir Publications. ISSN   0891-1851
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page B-84. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN   0-9680628-1-4
  4. ↑ US Light Aircraft (March 2008). "The Sport Pilot certificate is now a reality". Archived from the original on 28 March 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 74. Primedia Publications. ISSN   0891-1851
  6. ↑ Downey, Julia: 2001 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 12, December 2000, page 79. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN   0891-1851
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 278. BAI Communications. ISBN   0-9636409-4-1
  8. 1 2 Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, pages 22–23. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN   1368-485X
  9. ↑ Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 66. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN   1368-485X
  10. ↑ Higher Class Aviation and Oklahoma Light Aircraft. "Sport Hornet website". Archived from the original on 3 July 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  11. ↑ US Light Aircraft (March 2008). "Airframe". Archived from the original on 31 May 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  12. ↑ US Light Aircraft (March 2008). "Super Hornet". Archived from the original on 31 May 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
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.