The Sabre Wildcat is one of a series of
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
two-seat
ultralight trikes that was designed by Richard Helm and produced by
Sabre Aircraft
Sabre Aircraft was an American aircraft manufacturer, specializing in ultralight trikes and their hang glider-style wings. It was located in Buckeye, Arizona.Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, pp. C-20 & C-21. ...
. The aircraft were all supplied complete and ready-to-fly.
[Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page C-21. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ][Downey, Julia: ''2000 Trike and 'Chute Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 2, February 2000, page 48. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851][Downey, Julia: ''2005 Trikes 'Chutes and Rotorcraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 22, Number 2, February 2005, page 49. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851][Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04'', page 108. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X][Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', page 247. BAI Communications, 1998. ]
Sabre Aircraft ceased operations in 2008.
Design and development
The aircraft features a
cable-braced hang glider-style
high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-
tandem open cockpit,
tricycle landing gear and a single engine in
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 ...
. The aircraft is made from tubing, with its double-surface Stream 16 wing covered in
Dacron sailcloth. Its span wing is supported by a single tube-type
kingpost and uses an "A" frame control bar.
Like the single-seat
Sabre 340
The Sabre 340 is an American ultralight trike that was designed and produced by Sabre Aircraft of Buckeye, Arizona. The aircraft was supplied fully assembled.Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page C-20. Cybair ...
the basic models of the two-seater were intended to be economical to purchase. The Elite model cost
US$
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
10,800 in 2000, making it the least expensive complete two-seat aircraft available at the time.
Variants
;Trike
:Initial version, named just the ''Sabre Trike''. Standard engine was the
Kawasaki 340, with the
Rotax 447 and
Rotax 503 optional. Price US$6,995 in 1998.
;Aeros 503
:Model offered in 2000, with the
Aeros Stranger wing and
Rotax 503 engine. Price US$9,190 in 2000.
;Elite
:Base model offered circa 2000 with standard
Rotax 447 two-stroke powerplant or optional
Kawasaki 340. Optional
cockpit fairing
An aircraft fairing is a structure whose primary function is to produce a smooth outline and reduce drag.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, Third Edition'', page 206. Aviation Supplies & Academics Inc, Newcastle Washington, 1997. ...
,
tundra tires and
wheel pants.
;Venture
:Fully equipped model introduced in 2000 with standard
Rotax 503 two-stroke powerplant and a redesigned
titanium carriage frame made in the
Ukraine. Optional engines include the
Rotax 582 and the
Kawasaki 340.
;Wildcat
:Redesigned two-seat model with standard
Zanzottera MZ 202
The Zanzottera MZ 201 and MZ 202 are a family of twin-cylinder, in-line two-stroke, dual ignition aircraft engines designed for ultralight aircraft and motor gliders.Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page G-1 ...
engine,
Ivoprop
Ivoprop Corporation, founded in 1984 by Ivo Zdarsky, is an American manufacturer of composite propellers for homebuilt and ultralight aircraft, as well as airboats. The company's headquarters are in Long Beach, California.Purdy, Don: ''AeroCraf ...
propeller, electric starter and saddle bags. Optional engines include the
Rotax 447,
Rotax 503 and the
Kawasaki 340. The wings available included the Sabre single-surface and Puma double-surface wings. Price US$14,995 in 2005.
Specifications (Wildcat)
References
External links
Archive of Sabre Wildcat official websitefrom March 2008 on
Archive.org
{{Sabre Aircraft
1990s United States ultralight aircraft
Single-engined pusher aircraft
Ultralight trikes