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Pinaire Ultra-Aire

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Ultra-Aire
Role Ultralight aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Pinaire Engineering
Status Production completed

The Pinaire Ultra-Aire is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed and produced by Pinaire Engineering. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1][2]

Design and development

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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 cable-braced high-wing, canard elevator, a single-seat, open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1][2]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its flying surfaces covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its compact single-surface 26 ft (7.9 m) span wing is supported by cables attached to a simple tube kingpost. The pilot is accommodated on a suspended sling seat. The control system is two-axis with pitch controlled by a canard elevator attached to the side-stick. Roll and yaw are controlled by wing tip rudders also controlled by the side-stick. The landing gear features a steerable nose wheel, also controlled by the side-stick. The standard engine supplied with the kit was the Cuyuna UL II-02 twin cylinder, two-stroke powerplant of 35 hp (26 kW).[1][2]

The aircraft was carefully tested using sandbag loading to +6 and -4 g without failure. Reviewer Andre Cliche describes the design as "well engineered". The Ultra-Aire can be quickly dismantled for ground transportation or storage.[1]

Specifications (Ultra-Aire)

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Data from Cliche and the Virtual Ultralight Museum[1][2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Length: 14 ft 2 in (4.32 m)
  • Wingspan: 26 ft (7.9 m)
  • Height: 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
  • Wing area: 130 sq ft (12 m2)
  • Empty weight: 252 lb (114 kg)
  • Gross weight: 552 lb (250 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Cuyuna UL II-02 twin cylinder two-stroke, 35 hp (26 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 63 mph (101 km/h, 55 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 40 mph (64 km/h, 35 kn)
  • Stall speed: 22 mph (35 km/h, 19 kn)
  • g limits: +6/-7
  • Maximum glide ratio: 8:1
  • Rate of climb: 600 ft/min (3.0 m/s)

See also

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Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page E-42. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
  2. ^ a b c d Virtual Ultralight Museum (n.d.). "Ultra-Aire". Retrieved January 3, 2012.
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