Canaero Toucan

The Canaero Toucan is a Canadian high-wing, two seats in tandem, twin engine push-pull configuration, twin-boom ultralight kit aircraft that was produced from 1983 to the late 1980s by Canaero Dynamics Aircraft of Rexdale, Ontario.[1]

Toucan
Role Ultralight aircraft
National origin Canada
Manufacturer Canaero Dynamics Aircraft
Designer Peter Corley
First flight September 1983
Introduction January 1986
Primary user private owners

The Toucan greatly resembles an ultralight Cessna Skymaster.[1]

Design and development

The Toucan design work started in January 1983 and was completed in April of the same year, with the first flight of the prototype in September 1983. Construction of the first pre-production aircraft was started in July 1985 with the first production aircraft flying in January 1986.[1]

Four prototypes/pre-production aircraft were completed, which were followed by a run of twelve Toucans, all completed by June 1986. A second batch of 25 aircraft were planned to have been completed by November 1986 as well.[1]

The Toucan design features a strut-braced high wing built from aluminum covered with aircraft fabric. The wing's leading edge is of "D" cell construction and has fiberglass wing tips. Flight controls are conventional three-axis with full-span flaperons and twin rudders. The fuselage is constructed from welded 4130 steel tube. When originally delivered an airframe parachute was standard.[1]

The landing gear is of tricycle gear configuration with the main gear legs of sprung steel and brakes are standard equipment. Wheel pants, skis and pontoons were optional.[1]

The original engines were 28 hp (21 kW) Rotax 277s with 35 hp (26 kW) Rotax 377 engines as optional, although some aircraft have been modified with larger engines.[1]

Operational history
Toucan on display at the Alberta Aviation Museum.

In Canada Toucans are registered as basic ultralights which prohibits passenger-carrying. Both seats can only be occupied by a student and instructor or two licensed pilots.

In November 2016 there were still five Toucans registered in Canada.[2]

Aircraft on display

Specifications (Toucan T-IV)

Data from Janes All the Worlds Aircraft 1986-87[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 18 ft 11.75 in (5.7849 m)
  • Wingspan: 38 ft 6 in (11.73 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
  • Wing area: 182 sq ft (16.9 m2)
  • Empty weight: 393 lb (178 kg)
  • Gross weight: 900 lb (408 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Rotax 277 single cylinder two-stroke aircraft engine, 28 hp (21 kW) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 75 mph (121 km/h, 65 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 65 mph (105 km/h, 56 kn)
  • Stall speed: 24 mph (39 km/h, 21 kn)
  • Range: 170 mi (270 km, 150 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,000 m)
  • g limits: +6/-3
  • Rate of climb: 1,150 ft/min (5.8 m/s) solo, 165 lb pilot
  • Wing loading: 4.95 lb/sq ft (24.2 kg/m2)

References
  1. Taylor, John WR: Janes All the Worlds Aircraft 1986-87 Page 662-663, Janes Publishing Company, 1986. ISBN 0-7106-0835-7
  2. Transport Canada (14 November 2016). "Civil Aircraft Register". Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  3. Trussell, George (25 July 2008). "Canaero Dynamics Toucan, C-INRO / P IV, Alberta Aviation Museum". abpic.co.uk. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
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