__NOTOC__ The Verilite Model 100 Sunbird was a low-cost light aircraft developed in the United States in the 1980s.Taylor 1989, p. 947''Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1987–88'', p. 529Wrixon 1987, p. 28 It was developed by De Vore Aviation, a company that manufactures aircraft components, as a first foray into aircraft manufacturing. When initiated in 1983, the goal of the project was to create a two-seat light aircraft that could be sold for less than $US 20,000. Additionally, it was hoped that the Sunbird operating costs would be half that of a conventional two-seat aircraft."De Vore aims for spin-proof Sunbird" 1986, p. 18 Funding for the project became available in 1985, and the Verilite subsidiary was created to develop the concept. The design was unconventional: a high-wing, strut-braced monoplane with the single engine fitted in pusher configuration at the rear of the wing, and the empennage carried on an aluminum boom. The pilot and a single passenger sat side by side in a fully enclosed cockpit, and fixed, tricycle undercarriage was fitted. Originally simply dubbed the "Affordable Airplane", the name "Sundancer" was chosen as the winner of a public competition, and later changed to "Sunbird". Verilite worked together with

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research. NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...

Dryden Flight Research Center The NASA Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) is an aeronautical research center operated by NASA. Its primary campus is located inside Edwards Air Force Base in California and is considered NASA's premier site for aeronautical rese ...

to correct a serious flaw in the design when tests with a radio-controlled model saw the aircraft enter a spin following a stall.Chambers 2003, p. 147 Adding droops to the outboard halves of the leading edges eliminated the problem and rendered the Sunbird "unspinnable". The first flight was originally anticipated in May 1986 and type certification by mid 1987."De Vore Sunbird advances" 1985, p. 44 However, taxiing trials did not commence until February 1987 and the first attempt to fly the aircraft, on 18 April, resulted in a crash immediately after take-off. The

NTSB The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation. In this role, the NTSB investigates and reports on aviation accidents and incid ...

report on the accident noted that the aircraft was unable to maintain altitude after leaving ground effect, and that although the engine was rated at 60 hp, it could only deliver 40 hp.NTSB 1987 The aircraft was rebuilt, in the process losing 150 lb (68 kg) of structural weight, and the engine was modified to deliver 70 hp."Second Sunbird flies" 1987, p. 15 In this form, the Sunbird flew successfully on 5 October 1987. The projected cost of the aircraft had increased to $22,000 by 1985 and to $24,000 by 1987. Certification was now expected by mid-1989. Financing the project had proved difficult, however, with Gilbert De Vore personally contributing 75% of the $1 million spent on the project by the end of 1986."De Vore Sunbird approaches first flight" 1986, p. 22 De Vore had plans to make a public offering to raise between $1 million and $25 million to fund the rest of the development and certification program, and would need further finance to establish production. In the event, however, development was cancelled, and no further Sunbirds were built.

Specifications

Notes

References

* * * * * * * * {{Cite journal , last=Wrixon , first=Tim , title=The Affordable Airplane , journal=Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology , year= 1987 , volume=59 , issue=12 , pages=28–29 , doi=10.1108/eb036547 1980s United States civil utility aircraft High-wing aircraft Single-engined pusher aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1987