Flylab Tucano

Flylab Tucano
Flylab Tucano V
Role Ultralight aircraft
National origin Italy
Manufacturer Ferrari ULM
Flylab
Status In production
Developed from Chotia Weedhopper

The Flylab Tucano (English: Toucan) is an Italian ultralight, produced by Flylab, of Ischitella. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft. The aircraft was produced in the 1990s by Ferrari ULM of Castelbaldo.[1][2]

Design and development

The Tucano is a derivative of the Chotia Weedhopper and was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight rules with the design goal of being a low-cost aircraft. It features a strut-braced parasol wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed or open cockpit, fixed tricycle landing gear or floats and a single engine in pusher configuration or on some models twin engines in centreline thrust arrangement.[1]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its flying surfaces covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 10.17 m (33.4 ft) span wing has an area of 17 m2 (180 sq ft) and is supported by V-struts and jury struts. There is a cabane strut that passes though the windshield and cockpit area. The aircraft is built around a central bent aluminum keel tube that runs from the cockpit to the tail. Controls are standard three-axis type. Standard engines available are the 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 and 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 two-stroke powerplants. The fuel tank is of plastic construction, mounted under the pusher engine. The Tucano V has a glide ratio of 11:1.[1]

Variants

Tucano V
Tucano
Base model with Rotax 582 powerplant.[1][3]
Tucano V
Improved model, with aerodynamic clean-ups and enclosed cockpit[1][4]
Tucano HV
A Tucano V mounted on floats (hydro).[1][5]
Tucano Delta3
Open cockpit model powered by a Rotax 503[1][6]
Tucano HD3
Float-equipped model based on the Tucano Delta3, powered by a Rotax 503[1][7]
Tucano HD3A
Amphibious float-equipped model based on the Tucano HD3, powered by a Rotax 503[8]
Tucano Delta3 TW
Twin-engined (TW) version with Rotax 582 engines mounted in the nose and aft of the cockpit, based on the Tucano Delta3[1][9]
Tucano Delta3 VTW
Twin-engined version with Rotax 582 engines mounted in the nose and aft of the cockpit, with the Tucano V aerodynamic and cockpit refinements[1][10]
Tucano X2
Twin-engined version with Rotax 582 engines mounted in the nose and aft of the cockpit, produced in the 1990s by Ferrari ULM.[2]

Specifications (Tucano V)

Tucano V

Data from Bayerl and Flylab[1][4]

General characteristics

Performance

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 54. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 158. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  3. ↑ "Tucano By Flylab". Flylab.it. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Tucano V By Flylab". Flylab.it. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
  5. ↑ "Tucano HV By Flylab". Flylab.it. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
  6. ↑ "Tucano Delta3 By Flylab". Flylab.it. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
  7. ↑ "Tucano HD3 By Flylab". Flylab.it. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
  8. ↑ "Tucano HD3A By Flylab". Flylab.it. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
  9. ↑ "Tucano Delta3 TW By Flylab". Flylab.it. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
  10. ↑ "Tucano Delta3 VTW By Flylab". Flylab.it. Retrieved 2012-07-05.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flylab Tucano.