| Hummer | |
|---|---|
| Role | Recreational ultralight |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Homebuilt |
| Designer | Klaus Hill |
| First flight | November 1977 |
The Hill Hummer, also known as the Maxair Hummer was an ultralight aircraft developed in the United States in the late 1970s. An extremely minimalist design, the main structural element of the aircraft was a length of 5-inch aluminium irrigation pipe. At one end of this pipe was a seat for a pilot, and at the other, a V-tail. Behind the pilot's seat, an aluminium truss structure supported a fabric parasol wing, which was further braced with wires to another truss element that served as a kingpost above it. The engine was mounted pusher-wise at the rear of the wing truss, the length of the mounting to be selected by the builder to balance the weight of the pilot.
The Hummer won the award for Best Workmanship at the EAA Fly-in in 1978, and was marketed as plans and in kit form by Maxair after Hill's death.
Singer Billy Corgan's lifelong fascination with flight, and his subsequent childhood longing for a Maxair Hummer of his own, are the inspiration for his song "Hummer," found on the album Siamese Dream by his band The Smashing Pumpkins. It is considered one of the most influential songs about the need for a personal aircraft ever written.
General characteristics
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