The Hatfield Little Bird aircraft are a continuation of the Arup series of low aspect ratio aircraft.

Development

In the late 1920s, Cloyd Snyder of

South Bend, Indiana South Bend is a city in and the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, St. Joseph County, Indiana, on the St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan), St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2020 United S ...

developed a series of "Heel Lift" low aspect ratio aircraft inspired by the gliding properties of felt heel inserts. South Bend native, Milt Hatfield had built a homebuilt aircraft at the same time. Seeking flying lessons while grounded by his father, he donated parts of his aircraft to the

Arup S-2 The Arup S-2 was the first commercial development of Cloyd Snyder's Arup S-1 low aspect ratio wing aircraft. Design The Arup S-2 featured a straight leading edge wing with a trailing edge that tapered to the rear of the aircraft giving it a gui ...

project in exchange for flying lessons. Years later, Hatfield taught the buyer of the S-2 how to fly the plane, and salvaged parts from his own plane to keep it going. After

Arup Manufacturing Corporation Arup Manufacturing Corporation was an American aircraft manufacturer of tailless aircraft. History Dr. C.L. Snyder experimented with tailless aircraft starting with a 1926 glider called the Dirigiplane. The aircraft used a Clark Y airfoil th ...

went out of business, Hatfield promised Snyder he would make one of his own.

Operational history

All three Little Bird aircraft were bought by one owner and are awaiting restoration.

Variants

;Hatfield Prototype :A wood and fabric heel lift aircraft started in the 1980s and scrapped. ;Hatfield Prototype 2 :Another straight winged wood and fabric aircraft scrapped after one flight. ;Little Bird #1 :An ultralight swept wing heel lift. ;Little Bird #2 :N7019P A heavier experimental category aircraft. (1988) ;Little Bird #3 :An advanced ultralight design with a 27hp Rotax.

Specifications (Little Bird #1)

References

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External links