Pinaire Ultra-Aire
| Ultra-Aire | |
|---|---|
| Role | Ultralight aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Pinaire Engineering |
| Status | Production completed |
The Pinaire Ultra-Aire is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed and produced by Pinaire Engineering. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1][2]
Design and development
[edit]The aircraft was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 252 lb (114 kg). It features a cable-braced high-wing, canard elevator, a single-seat, open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1][2]
The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its flying surfaces covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its compact single-surface 26 ft (7.9 m) span wing is supported by cables attached to a simple tube kingpost. The pilot is accommodated on a suspended sling seat. The control system is two-axis with pitch controlled by a canard elevator attached to the side-stick. Roll and yaw are controlled by wing tip rudders also controlled by the side-stick. The landing gear features a steerable nose wheel, also controlled by the side-stick. The standard engine supplied with the kit was the Cuyuna UL II-02 twin cylinder, two-stroke powerplant of 35 hp (26 kW).[1][2]
The aircraft was carefully tested using sandbag loading to +6 and -4 g without failure. Reviewer Andre Cliche describes the design as "well engineered". The Ultra-Aire can be quickly dismantled for ground transportation or storage.[1]
Specifications (Ultra-Aire)
[edit]Data from Cliche and the Virtual Ultralight Museum[1][2]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Length: 14 ft 2 in (4.32 m)
- Wingspan: 26 ft (7.9 m)
- Height: 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
- Wing area: 130 sq ft (12 m2)
- Empty weight: 252 lb (114 kg)
- Gross weight: 552 lb (250 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Cuyuna UL II-02 twin cylinder two-stroke, 35 hp (26 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 63 mph (101 km/h, 55 kn)
- Cruise speed: 40 mph (64 km/h, 35 kn)
- Stall speed: 22 mph (35 km/h, 19 kn)
- g limits: +6/-7
- Maximum glide ratio: 8:1
- Rate of climb: 600 ft/min (3.0 m/s)
See also
[edit]Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
