Hummel Ultracruiser

The Hummel Ultracruiser (also variously called the Ultra Cruiser and UltraCruiser) is an American amateur-built aircraft, designed by Morry Hummel and produced by Hummel Aviation. The aircraft is supplied as a kit or plans for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly aircraft.[1][2]

Ultracruiser
Role Amateur-built aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Hummel Aviation
Designer Morry Hummel
First flight 2000
Status In production (2012)
Number built 100 (2011)
Developed from Hummel Bird
Variants Hummel H5
Hummelbird Ultra Cruiser landing at Sun 'n Fun 2004, Lakeland, Florida, United States
Hummelbird Ultra Cruiser taxiing at Sun 'n Fun 2004, Lakeland, Florida, United States

Design and development

The Ultracruiser is a development of the heavier Hummel Bird, 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 249 lb (113 kg).[1][3][4]

The Ultracruiser features a cantilever low-wing, a single-seat open, or optionally enclosed, cockpit that is 23.5 in (60 cm) wide, fixed conventional landing gear, or optionally tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.[1]

The aircraft is made from sheet aluminum. Its 25 ft (7.6 m) span wing employs a Harry C. Riblett GA30-618 airfoil and has an area of 112 sq ft (10.4 m2). The aircraft's recommended engine power range is 28 to 45 hp (21 to 34 kW) and standard engines used include the 37 hp (28 kW) 1/2 VW four-stroke powerplant. Construction time from the supplied kit is estimated as 420 hours.[1][3][5]

Operational history

By December 2011 100 examples had been completed and flown.[1]

Variants
Ultracruiser
Base model for the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles category, powered by a 37 hp (28 kW) 1/2 VW.[1][2]
Ultracruiser Plus
Model for larger and heavier pilots, powered by a 60 hp (45 kW) Volkswagen air-cooled engine, for the US experimental amateur-built category.[2][6]

Specifications (Ultracruiser)

Data from Kitplanes and Hummel Aviation[1][3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Length: 16 ft (4.9 m)
  • Wingspan: 25 ft (7.6 m)
  • Wing area: 112 sq ft (10.4 m2)
  • Airfoil: Harry Riblett GA30-618
  • Empty weight: 249 lb (113 kg)
  • Gross weight: 500 lb (227 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × 1/2 VW two cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke automotive conversion, 37 hp (28 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed wooden

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 60 mph (97 km/h, 52 kn)
  • Stall speed: 28 mph (45 km/h, 24 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 95 mph (153 km/h, 83 kn)
  • Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 4.5 lb/sq ft (22 kg/m2)

References
  1. Vandermeullen, Richard: 2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 56. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  2. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 111. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. Hummel Aviation (2007). "The UltraCruiser". Archived from the original on November 24, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  4. "Misidentified Hummel". Sport Aviation: 8. March 2016.
  5. Spangler, Scott (July 19, 2013). "The Airfoil Adventures of Harry Riblett". Archived from the original on June 12, 2021.
  6. Hummel Aviation (2007). "The Ultra Cruiser Plus". Archived from the original on November 25, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
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