Photograph:
Early Bird Aircraft Company Jenny 19-3712 (c/n 003) at Avalon, VIC in March 2009 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 37 kw (50 hp) Rotax 503UL two-cylinder, two-cycle, electronic dual-ignition air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.53 m (28 ft)
- Length: 5.48 m (18 ft)
- Wing area: 16.25 m² (175 sq ft)
- Max speed: 113 km/h (70 mph)
- Cruising speed: 105 km/h (65 mph)
- Stalling speed: 56 km/h (35 mph)
- Rate of climb: 244 m/min (800 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 4,267 m (14,000 ft)
- Take-off run: 30 m (100 ft)
- Landing run: 76 m (250 ft)
- Fuel capacity: 34 litres (7.49 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 190 kg (419 lb)
- Max payload weight: 148 kg (327 lb)
- Loaded weight: 363 kg (800 lb)
History:
The Early Bird Aircraft Co Jenny was a two-thirds scale replica of the Curtiss JN-4D Jenny training aircraft which, in its ultralight form, could be used as an ultralight trainer as well as a sport aircraft.
The type was introduced to the market in 1985 and plans have been supplied by the manufacturers, Early Bird Aircraft Co of Fruita, Colorado, around the world. Construction was of welded steel tube with fabric covering.
At least one example has been completed in Australia. This aircraft was built by Peter Franks, construction commencing in December 1999, and it was powered by a converted Suzuki Swift 1000 cc three-cylinder engine fitted with a Rotax “C” gearbox from a Rotax 503 engine. It was first flown in March 2002 at Lethbridge Airpark in Victoria. It became 19-3712 (c/n 003) on 3 April 2002, the registration expiring on 8 September 2009.