The Freebird I is an American single-seat, high wing,
tricycle gear, single engined
pusher configuration
In an aircraft with a pusher configuration (as opposed to a tractor configuration), the propeller(s) are mounted behind their respective engine(s). Since a pusher propeller is mounted behind the engine, the drive shaft is in compression in nor ...
ultralight
kit aircraft designed for construction by amateur builders by the
Freebird Airplane Company of
Marshville, North Carolina and later also produced by
Pro Sport Aviation
Free Bird Innovations, Inc. is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and formed in about 2003. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of ultralight aircraft in the form of plans and kits for amate ...
of
Wingate, North Carolina.
[Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page B-26 Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ][Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', page 166. BAI Communications. ]
The original Freebird I design was further refined and developed and was produced until late 2014 by
Free Bird Innovations of
Detroit Lakes, Minnesota as the LiteSport Ultra.
Development
The Freebird I was developed from the two-seater
Freebird II that had been introduced at
Sun 'n Fun
Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo (officially styled SUN 'n FUN) is a nonprofit organization in Lakeland, Florida dedicated to the promotion of aviation education. It is best known for the annual week-long fly-in and airshow at Lakeland Linder Intern ...
1996. The single seater was introduced in 1998 and retains the configuration and many features of the two seater, but with a revised, narrower fuselage. The aircraft was intended to meet the requirements of the US
FAR 103 ''Ultralight Vehicles'' category, including that category's maximum empty weight.
The Freebird I is constructed from bolted
aluminum tubing, covered with doped
aircraft fabric. The aircraft features conventional three-axis controls, including a trim system. The tricycle landing gear is steered by differential braking and a castering nosewheel. The company estimated that an average builder would take 120 hours to build the aircraft from the assembly kit.
The standard engine recommended is the two-stroke
Rotax 447 and with this engine the standard empty weight is .
The Freebird I's wings can be folded in five minutes by one person and the aircraft can then be trailered or stored. Options available included full cabin doors,
flaperons, brakes,
wheel pants and a custom-fitted trailer.
The original Freebird I has been replaced in the company line by the improved LiteSport Ultra. A new variant, the Freebird 103, using the same wing with a redesigned fuselage, was under development in 2009.
Variants
;Freebird I
:Original model introduced in 1998, single seat ultralight with
Rotax 447 and standard empty weight of , built by
Freebird Airplane Company and
Pro Sport Aviation
Free Bird Innovations, Inc. is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and formed in about 2003. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of ultralight aircraft in the form of plans and kits for amate ...
.
;Sportlite 103
:Improved model single seat ultralight with
Rotax 447 and standard empty weight of , built by and Pro Sport Aviation and
Free Bird Innovations. This single seat model can be converted into a two-seater and has an acceptable power range of . When it was in production it was available as a quick-build kit, fully assembled or as plans. The plans were extensive and included a 200 page construction manual, templates, covering instructions and a complete materials list. In 2001 the plans were US$185 and the manufacturer estimated that it would take 250 hours to build the aircraft from the plans. To help plans builders the manufacturer allowed builders to order any parts that they wanted without buying the complete kit.
[Downey, Julia: ''Kit Aircraft Directory 2005'', Kitplanes, Volume 21, Number 12, December 2004, page 59. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851][Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page B-58 Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ]
;LiteSport Ultra
:Improved current production model, single seat kit aircraft with
Rotax 447 and standard empty weight of , built by
Free Bird Innovations. 357 had been completed and flown by 2011
[Downey, Julia: ''2008 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 53. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851][Vandermeullen, Richard: ''2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide'', Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 55. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851]
;Freebird 103
:Model originally projected for introduction in 2011 as a single seat US FAR 103 ultralight aircraft with a design empty weight under . The 103 intended to use the LiteSport Ultra wing mated to a newly
CAD designed fuselage frame to save weight and was to be built by
Free Bird Innovations. The project was set back when the lead project engineer, Eric Grina, was killed in a car accident in October 2011.
Specifications (Freebird I)
See also
References
External links
* for the Ultra
* for the 103
{{Free Bird Innovations
Free Bird Innovations aircraft
1990s United States ultralight aircraft
Single-engined pusher aircraft