Photograph:
Hummell Ultra Cruiser at EAA event at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA in 2007 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-seat light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 28 kw (37 hp) two-cylinder Volkswagen conversion four-stroke air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 7.6 m (25 ft)
- Length: 4.9 m (16 ft)
- Wing area: 10.4 m² (112 sq ft)
- Never exceed speed: 153 km/h (95 mph)
- Cruising speed: 97 km/h (60 mph)
- Rate of climb: 305 m/min (1,000 ft/min)
- Fuel capacity: 19 litres (4.2 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 113 kg (249 lb)
- Loaded weight: 227 kg (500 lb)
History:
The Ultra Cruiser was designed by Maurice Hummel and was produced by Hummel Aviation of Bryan, Ohio, USA for the ultralight and sport aircraft market. It was available in kit form or as plans only form but could also be obtained as a ready-to-fly aircraft.
The Ultra Cruiser was designed to meet US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicle regulations and was a development of the Hummelbird. It had a cantilever low-wing, a single-seat cockpit which could be open or enclosed, and a fixed undercarriage in either tailwheel or tricycle undercarriage configuration. It was built from sheet aluminium and engines ranging from 21 kw to 34 kw (28 hp to 45 hp) could be installed. More than 150 examples have been completed around the world.
At least one example of the series has been registered in Australia, this being described as a Hummelbird Stretched, which was registered under Recreational Aviation Australia (RAA) Regulations as 19-7941 (c/n 1002) and was fitted with a Great Plains Aviation Supply of Bennington, Nebraska 2.3 litre Volkswagen four-cylinder, four-stroke, horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine. A Super Cruiser was also registered as 10-8451 (c/n 358) in December 2013.