Airdrome Dream Classic

The Airdrome Dream Classic is a minimalist, high wing, single seat, single engine ultralight aircraft inspired by the 1908 Santos-Dumont Demoiselle and produced in kit form by Airdrome Aeroplanes of Holden, Missouri.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Dream Classic
Role Ultralight aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Airdrome Aeroplanes
Designer Robert Baslee
Number built 56 (2011)
Developed from Santos-Dumont Demoiselle

The aircraft is intended for the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles category.[1]

Development

The Dream Classic was designed as a low-cost and very basic ultralight. The fuselage is open and constructed from pop-riveted aluminum tubing. The wing is covered with aircraft fabric and is wire-braced utilizing a kingpost to support the ground loads or optionally strut-braced. The wings can be removed in 20 minutes for trailering. Controls are conventional three-axis, with the elevator and ailerons operated by a side stick.[1][3][5]

Two different wings are available, a standard wing of 30.5 ft (9.3 m) span and 122 sq ft (11.35 sq m) area and a speed wing of 21.5 ft (6.6 m) span and 86 sq ft (8.00 sq m) area. The speed wing restricts the aircraft's useful load to 170 lb (77 kg), while the standard wing allows 250 lb (113 kg).[1][5]

The standard engine is the 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447, although engines of 28 to 52 hp (21 to 39 kW) can be used. The manufacturer estimates that a builder will take 100–120 hours to complete this aircraft from the kit. In 2009 the airframe-only kit for the wire-braced version cost US$3495 and US$3995 for the strut-braced version. A completed airframe is also available for an additional US$2000.[1][5][7]

By the fall of 2007, 48 wired braced and one strut-braced Dream Classics were flying.[4]

Variants
Dream Classic Standard
Single seat ultralight with 30.5 ft (9.3 m) wingspan and 122 sq ft (11.35 sq m) wing area, standard engine 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447
Dream Classic Speed
Single seat ultralight with 21.5 ft (6.6 m) wingspan and 86 sq ft (8.00 sq m) wing area, standard engine 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447

Specifications (Dream Classic Speed)

Data from Airdrome Aeroplanes[5] & Kitplanes[3][4]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: 170 lb (77 kg); no passengers
  • Length: 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m)
  • Wingspan: 21 ft 6 in (6.6 m)
  • Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
  • Wing area: 86 sq ft (8.00 m2)
  • Empty weight: 223 lb (101 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 393 lb (178 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 447 fixed pitch, 40 hp (30 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 76 mph (123 km/h, 66 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 68 mph (110 km/h, 59 kn)
  • Stall speed: 31 mph (50 km/h, 27 kn)
  • Rate of climb: 670 ft/min (3.4 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 4.57 lb/sq ft (22.25 kg/m2)
  • Power/mass: 9.3 lb/hp (0.16 kW/kg)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page B-14. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
  2. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 110. BAI Communications. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  3. Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 35. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  4. Downey, Julia: 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 38. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  5. Airdrome Aeroplanes (2009). "The Dream Classic". Archived from the original on 13 December 2010. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
  6. Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 39. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  7. Airdrome Aeroplanes (2009). "Airdrome Aeroplanes Order Form". Archived from the original on 2009-09-26. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
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