Ultravia Pelican

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 and later Gatineau, Quebec.[1][2][3][4]

Pelican
Ultravia Pelican Club
Role Ultralight aircraft
National origin Canada
Manufacturer Ultravia
New Kolb Aircraft
Aerodesign
Flyer Indústria Aeronáutica
Ballard Sport Aircraft
Designer Jean Rene Lepage
Status In production as the Ballard Pelican (2012)
Produced Le Pelican 1983-85
Pelican and subsequent two seat models 1985-2006
Aerodesign Pegasus 1997-2004
Pelican 500BR circa2001-2009
Flyer Kolb SS circa2008-2016
Flyer F600NG 2016-present
Pelican PL and Sport 600 2009-present

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 tailskid, replaced on later models by a steerable tailwheel.[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 turbocharged engine. Options included tricycle or conventional landing gear.[2][3][5]

The Pelican was initially produced in kit form by Ultravia 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 1994, the Brazilian company Aerodesign certified and produced a new version of the Pelican PL and the Pelican Club, designated the Aerodesign AD2000 Pegasus under the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil H.03 program, although the approval is currently listed as "cancelled".[6][7] In 1997 the company marketed this model as the Aerodesign Pegasus.[8] In 1999 this model was listed as eligible to be sold as a kit in Australia by the Australian Ultralight Federation.[9]

Since 2001 the Brazilian company Flyer Indústria Aeronáutica has assembled and produced several other aircraft designs based on the Pelican, as the Pelican 500BR, Kolb SS and the F600NG.[10][11][12]

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 Indústria Aeronáutica of Brazil into the Kolb Flyer Super Sport, based on pilot feedback gathered. The two-seat Kolb Flyer SS design was put into production in 2008.[3][4][13]

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 117 kn (217 km/h).[3]

In about 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.[14][15]

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.[5]
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).[16][17][18][19][20][21]
Pelican Sport
Development of the PL with a new longer span wing and a higher lift airfoil, introduced in 1998. Wing includes an STOL kit with drooping ailerons. Gross weight 1,232 lb (559 kg) for the Canadian advanced ultralight category.[5][17][21]
Pelican Sport 600
Development of the Pelican Sport with a 600 kg (1,323 lb) gross weight for the US Light sport aircraft category. As of April 2017, the design does not appear on the Federal Aviation Administration's list of approved special light-sport aircraft.[3][19][20][22][23]
Pelican Tutor
Proposed certified version, certification was never completed.[13]
Flyer Super Sport (Flyer SS)
Redesigned and developed version of the Sport 600, introduced in July 2008 and produced until about 2016 by New Kolb Aircraft as a light-sport category aircraft.[3][4][23]
Pelican AULA 600
Factory-assembled model for the Canadian AULA category.[23][24]
Aerodesign Pegasus
Brazilian redesigned version, cruising at 110 mph (177 km/h), with a stall speed of 35 mph (56 km/h), MTOW 1,100 lb (499 kg), aluminium wings and composite fuselage and tail.[25]
Flyer F600NG
A lightened version of the Pelican 500BR and Kolb SS, developed by Flyer Aircraft to fit the new Brazilian LSA regulations.[12]

Specifications (Le 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 (89 km/h, 48 kn)
  • Stall speed: 26 mph (42 km/h, 23 kn)
  • Range: 104 mi (167 km, 90 nmi)
  • 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. Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page E-28. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
  2. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 279. BAI Communications. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  3. New Kolb Aircraft (2010). "30 Years of Distinguished Service!". Archived from the original on 21 March 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  4. 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. Ultravia (March 2006). "Company". Archived from the original on 15 December 2005. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  6. "Lista de Fabricantes com CAFC". anac.gov.br. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  7. "Lista das Aeronaves com CAFC". anac.gov.br. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  8. Claudio Amaral (1998). "Brazilian Market Ultralight Manufacturers and Kit List". Claudio Amaral. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  9. Australian Ultralight Federation (4 July 2001). "Eligible Kit List" (PDF). flysafe.raa.asn.au. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  10. Classificados, Aerofree (1 January 2014). "Flyer - Pelican 500BR - 2001". aerofree.com.br. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  11. "KOLB SS - Fly Ultraleves". flyultraleves.com.br. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  12. "FLYER INDÚSTRIA AERONÁUTICA". flyer-aero.com. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  13. Ultravia (March 2006). "Ultravia Aero International Main Page". Archived from the original on 30 November 2005. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  14. Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 44. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  15. Ballard Sport Aircraft (2011). "Introduction: Who we are". Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  16. Ultravia (April 1999). "Ultravia Aero International". Archived from the original on 29 April 1999. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  17. Ultravia (March 2006). "Ultravia Aero International". Archived from the original on 30 November 2005. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  18. Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 73. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  19. Downey, Julia: 2001 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 12, December 2000, page 58. KitPlanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851
  20. Downey, Julia: 2002 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 18, Number 12, December 2001, page 71. KitPlanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851
  21. Newby-Gonzalez, Tori: Kit Aircraft Directory 2004, Kitplanes, Volume 20, Number 12, December 2003, page 81. Aviation Publishing Group. ISSN 0891-1851
  22. Federal Aviation Administration (1 March 2017). "SLSA Make/Model Directory". Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  23. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, pages 34, 84 and 101. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  24. Ballard Sport Aircraft (2011). "Pelican Sport AULA Technical descriptive" (PDF). Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  25. Aerodesign Desenvolvimentos Aeronauticos Ltda (March 1997). "Aerodesign Pegasus Specification Data". Claudio Amaral 1998. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
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