Birdman Atlas

Atlas
Role Ultralight aircraft
National origin Canada
Manufacturer Birdman Enterprises
Designer Bob Lovejoy
Introduction 1980[1]
Status Production completed
Number built more than 500[2]
Developed from Eipper Quicksilver

The Birdman Atlas is a single-seat, high wing, single engine in pusher configuration, ultralight aircraft that was based upon the Eipper Quicksilver design.[1][3]

Development

The Atlas was introduced to the marketplace in 1980. Production was curtailed in about 1983 as the company concentrated on producing the newer Birdman WT-11 Chinook instead.[1]

The Atlas was a development of the Quicksilver and as such incorporated many of the Quicksilver's features, such as a 6061-T6 aluminum-framed, single-surface Dacron-covered, wire-braced high wing, with the ground wires suspended from a kingpost. The fuselage structure was also built from 6061-T6 aluminum tube.[3]

The early Atlas XC variants used weight shift for control supplemented with a rudder, whereas the later 3-A versions (for 3-Axis) utilized a conventional control system with elevator and rudder, and spoilers for roll control.[3]

Variants

Atlas 215 XC
Foot-launchable single place ultralight powered by a 20 hp (15 kW) 215 cc single cylinder Cuyuna 215 engine. Control system is weight shift, plus rudder. Landing gear includes a shimmy-damped, shock-absorbing tailwheel unit. Available in kit form.[3]
Atlas 250 XC
Foot-launchable single place ultralight powered by a 25 hp (19 kW) 250 cc twin cylinder Rotax engine. Control system is weight shift, plus rudder. Landing gear includes a shimmy-damped, shock-absorbing tailwheel unit. Available in kit form.[3]
Atlas 215 3-A
Non-foot-launchable single place ultralight powered by a 20 hp (15 kW) 215 cc single cylinder Cuyuna 215 engine. Conventional three-axis control system utilizing spoilers for roll-control. Seat is adjustable fore and aft for balance. Due to company concerns about rigging requirements it was only supplied as a completed aircraft.[3]
Atlas 250 3-A
Non-foot-launchable single place ultralight powered by a 25 hp (19 kW) 250 cc twin cylinder Rotax engine. Conventional three-axis control system utilizing spoilers for roll-control. Due to company concerns about rigging requirements it was only supplied as a completed aircraft.[3]

Specifications (Atlas 215 3-A)

Data from Janes All the Worlds Aircraft 1982-83[3]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Birdman Enterprises.
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jones, Terry: Birdman WT-11 Chinook - A Cabin-Class "Ultra" Lightplane. Birdman Enterprises, 1984.
  2. Taylor, John WR, Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1987-88 page 544, Janes Publishing Limited.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Taylor, John WR: Janes All the Worlds Aircraft 1982-83 page 625-626, Janes Publishing Company, 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2