Ultravia Pelican

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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. The company later relocated to Gatineau, Quebec. The single seat Le Pelican series was produced from 1983–85 and the two seat Pelican series was built from 1985 until Ultravia went out of business in 2006.[1][2][3][4]

In 2006, the New Kolb Aircraft of London, Kentucky purchased the assets of the bankrupt Ultravia, including the rights to the Pelican. The two seat Kolb Flyer SS design was put into production in 2008.[3]

In circa 2007 Kolb sold the rights to produce the Pelican line to Ballard Sport Aircraft of Sherbrooke, Quebec, who presently manufacturer kits and ready-to-fly advanced ultralight aircraft.[5][6]

Design and development

The first Le Pelican was designed as a single seat aircraft powered by a two-cylinder 18 hp (13 kW) Briggs & Stratton four-stroke lawnmower engine. It was designed in the early 1980s and greatly resembles the Aeronca C-2 of 1929.[1]

The original Le Pelican airframe is constructed from aluminum tubing, using gussets and pop rivets. The wing consists of a "D" cell with foam and aluminum ribs. All flying surfaces are covered in doped aircraft fabric. The very first Pelicans had wire-bracing for the wing and spoilers for roll control. These were replaced with strut-bracing and one-third span ailerons. The enclosed cabin, designed for Quebec winters included Lexan doors. The Pelican's conventional landing gear consists of a fibreglass rod for the main gear, with a tail skid, that was on later models replaced by a steerable tail wheel.[1]

The original Le Pelican was replaced in production by the single seat Super Pelican which has taller landing gear and a Half VW engine of 35 hp (26 kW)[1]

The single seat Le Pelican production ran from 1983 to 1985, with about 100 kits delivered. Due to demand for two-seaters Lepage designed a new "clean-sheet" aircraft in 1984, which retained the same name as the earlier single seater. The two seat Pelican Club and its derivatives were built in large numbers, with more than 700 flying by 2003. The original Pelican Club has a fibreglass fuselage and aluminum frame wings with aircraft fabric covering. The wings were later made all-metal and this model became the Pelican PL. The PL was available from the factory equipped with a 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS or a 115 hp (86 kW) Rotax 914 turbo-charged engine. Options included tricycle or conventional landing gear.[2][3][7]

Ultravia signed The New Kolb Aircraft Company as US distributor for the Pelican Sport 600 model in 2003. Kolb displayed the aircraft at Sun 'n Fun and AirVenture between 2003 and 2005. Ultravia pursued certification of the Pelican Tutor model under CAR 523 VLA, with the National Research Council conducting the test flying under contract, but Ultravia went out of business before completing certification. In 2006 Kolb purchased the assets of the bankrupt Ultravia and developed the aircraft, in partnership with Flyer Industria Aeronáutica LTDA of Brazil into the Kolb Flyer Super Sport, based on pilot feedback gathered.[3][4][8]

The Flyer SS's fuselage is built from carbon fibre and weighs 77 lb (35 kg), while the wing is made from 6061-T6 and 2024-T3 aluminum. Power is provided by a 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS aircraft engine, giving a cruise speed of 115 kn (213 km/h).[3]

Variants

Pelican PL with tricycle gear
Ultravia Pelican Club GS advanced ultralight with conventional landing gear
Le Pelican
Original single seat model, powered by a two-cylinder 18 hp (13 kW) Briggs and Stratton four stroke lawnmower engine and featuring low landing gear.[1]
Super Pelican
Improved single seat model with higher main landing gear and powered by a 35 hp (26 kW) Half VW engine.[1]
Pelican Club
Two seat side-by-side model with fabric covered wing introduced in 1985.[7]
Pelican PL
Two seat side-by-side model powered by a 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS or 115 hp (86 kW) Rotax 914 and introduced in 1991. The PL could be built as a conventional landing gear or tricycle gear aircraft, with optional skis, floats or amphibious floats available. Gross weight 1,400 lb (635 kg).[9][10][11][12][13][14]
Pelican Sport
Development of the PL with a new longer span wing and a higher lift airfoil, introduced in 1998. Wing includes a STOL kit with drooping ailerons. Gross weight 1,232 lb (559 kg) for the Canadian advanced ultralight category.[7][10][14]
Pelican Sport 600
Development of the Pelican Sport with a 600 kg (1,323 lb) gross weight for the US Light sport aircraft category.[3][12][13]
Pelican Tutor
Proposed certified version, certification was never completed.[8]
Flyer Super Sport (Flyer SS)
Redesigned and developed version of the Sport 600, introduced in July 2008 and in production by New Kolb Aircraft as a light-sport category aircraft.[3][4]
Pelican AULA 600
Factory assembled model for the Canadian AULA category.[15]

Specifications (Pelican)

Pelican Club amateur-built on skis

Data from Cliche[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wingspan: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m)
  • Wing area: 140 sq ft (13 m2)
  • Empty weight: 210 lb (95 kg)
  • Gross weight: 450 lb (204 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 2.5 US gallons (19 litres)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Briggs and Stratton two-cylinder four stroke lawnmower engine, 18 hp (13 kW)

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 55 mph (48 kn; 89 km/h)
  • Stall speed: 26 mph (23 kn; 42 km/h)
  • Range: 104 mi (90 nmi; 167 km)
  • G limits: +6.6/-3.3
  • Maximum glide ratio: 13:1 at 35 mph
  • Rate of climb: 500 ft/min (2.5 m/s)

Avionics

  • none

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page E-28. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 279. BAI Communications. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 New Kolb Aircraft (2010). "30 Years of Distinguished Service!". Archived from the original on 21 March 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2010. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, pages 81 and 124. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  5. ↑ Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 44. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  6. ↑ Ballard Sport Aircraft (2011). "Introduction: Who we are". Retrieved 19 November 2011. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Ultravia (March 2006). "Company". Archived from the original on 15 December 2005. Retrieved 28 May 2010. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Ultravia (March 2006). "Ultravia Aero International Main Page". Archived from the original on 30 November 2005. Retrieved 25 May 2010. 
  9. ↑ Ultravia (April 1999). "Ultravia Aero International". Archived from the original on 29 April 1999. Retrieved 25 May 2010. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Ultravia (March 2006). "Ultravia Aero International". Archived from the original on 30 November 2005. Retrieved 25 May 2010. 
  11. ↑ Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 73. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Downey, Julia: 2001 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 12, December 2000, page 58. KitPlanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Downey, Julia: 2002 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 18, Number 12, December 2001, page 71. KitPlanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Newby-Gonzalez, Tori: Kit Aircraft Directory 2004, Kitplanes, Volume 20, Number 12, December 2003, page 81. Aviation Publishing Group. ISSN 0891-1851
  15. ↑ Ballard Sport Aircraft (2011). "Pelican Sport AULA Technical descriptive". Retrieved 19 November 2011. 

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