American Sportscopter Ultrasport 254

The American Sportscopter Ultrasport 254 is an American helicopter that was designed and produced by American Sportscopter and first flown in July 1993. The aircraft was produced by Light's American Sportscopter Inc from 1999. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1][2][3]

Ultrasport 254
Role Helicopter
National origin United States
Manufacturer American Sportscopter
Light's American Sportscopter Inc
First flight July 1993
Status Production completed
Number built 18 (2005)
Variants American Sportscopter Ultrasport 331
American Sportscopter Ultrasport 496

Design and development

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 single main rotor, an enclosed cockpit with a windshield, skid-type landing gear and a twin cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, single-ignition 55 hp (41 kW) Hirth 2703 engine.[1][3]

The aircraft fuselage fairing is made from composites. Its 21 ft (6.4 m) diameter main rotor employs an ATI 012 (VR-7 mod) airfoil at the blade root, becoming an ATI 008 (VR-7 mod) at the tip. The main and tail rotor blades are of honeycomb composite construction. The cyclic control is roof-mounted, hanging down into the cockpit, but is otherwise conventional. The 23 in (58.4 cm) diameter tail rotor features a shrouded tail rotor and a tailplane with end-fins.[1][4]

When it was available, the aircraft could be purchased as a 150-hour assembly kit or as a 60-hour quick-build kit. No plans were available.[1][2]

Specifications (Ultrasport 254)

Data from Cliche and KitPlanes[1][2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Length: 19.2 ft (5.9 m)
  • Empty weight: 252 lb (114 kg)
  • Gross weight: 525 lb (238 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Hirth 2703 twin cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke dual-ignition aircraft engine, 55 hp (41 kW)
  • Main rotor diameter: 21 ft 0 in (6.40 m)
  • Main rotor area: 346 sq ft (32.1 m2)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 63 mph (101 km/h, 55 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 63 mph (101 km/h, 55 kn)
  • Range: 75 mi (121 km, 65 nmi)
  • g limits: +/-2.3g
  • Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)
  • Disk loading: 1.50 lb/sq ft (7.3 kg/m2)

See also

References
  1. Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page F-6. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
  2. Downey, Julia: 2005 Trikes 'Chutes and Rotorcraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 22, Number 2, February 2005, page 54. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  3. Jane's Information Group (2009). "American Sportscopter International Inc (United States), Buyer's guide airframe manufacturers". Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  4. Lednicer, David (2010). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". Archived from the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
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