Photograph:
Ultravia Super Pelican ZK-JDI (c/n JF2) at Matamata in 2000 (Keith Morris – NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
Canada
Description:
Single-seat light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 26 kw (35 hp) Global [1039 cc] two-cylinder, four-stroke, horizontally-opposed engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.67 m (35 ft)
- Length: 4.27 m (14 ft)
- Max cruising speed: 101 km/h (63 mph)
- Range: 422 km (262 miles)
- Empty weight: 113 kg (249 lb)
- Loaded weight: 238 kg (525 lb)
History:
The Super Pelican was designed by Jean Rene Le Page in Quebec, Canada as an ultralight aircraft and was a development of the smaller and earlier Le Pelican, which was also an ultralight aircraft, and was fitted with a half-conversion of a Volkswagen engine reduced from four cylinders to two. Its construction was of riveted aluminium tube fuselage and the wings were aluminium D-section with foam ribs, the aircraft being fabric covered. The aircraft was similar in appearance to the Aeronca C-2.
Mr Jon Farmer of Auckland marketed the aircraft in New Zealand and two examples were built, the first being ZK-FJO (c/n MAANZ/299), which was registered to him on 24 December 1984. This machine was fitted with a two-cylinder Mosler CB-35 conversion of a Volkswagen air-cooled engine weighing 39 kg (86 lb). It was damaged in a take-off incident at Matitai on 6 February 1986 and was not repaired. It was later sold to Ultralight Manufacturing Ltd of Auckland in October 1989, and later sold again, eventually being withdrawn from use in September 2011.
A second Super Pelican became ZK-JDI (c/n JF2) and was registered to Jon Farmer on 17 December 1993. This machine was fitted with a Rotax 508 engine. It was retired at some stage and when last noted was awaiting restoration.
At least one example was imported to Australia, being described as a Geonic Aero Industries Pelican, becoming 10-0151 (c/n GP227) on 23 May 1988. It was on the register until 9 May 2005. This aircraft was also fitted with a Mosler CB-35 engine. Geonic Aero was based at Woodridge, QLD and offered to the homebuilder the Pelican and the Rouseabout, these aircraft being fitted with Koenig and Rotax engines, and could be fitted with Zenair floats.