Ultavia Aircraft Ultavia

Single-seat single-engined high-wing monoplane with conventional three-axis control. Wing has swept back leading and trailing edges, and constant chord; no tail, canard wing. Pitch control by fully flying canard; yaw control by tip rudders; roll control by spoilers; control inputs through yoke for pitch/roll and pedals for yaw. Wing braced from above by kingpost and cables, from below by cables; wing profile; single-surface. Undercarriage has three wheels in tricycle formation; glass-fibre suspension on main wheels. Push-right go-right nosewheel steering connected to yaw control. Brake on nosewheel. Aluminium-tube framework, with pod. Engine mounted below wing driving pusher propeller. Rudders and canard are covered in Stits polyriber fabric.

The prototype having made its first flights at the end of the summer in 1982. The prototype used a KFM 107ER motor which gives, according to Ultavia Aircraft, 25 hp at 6300 rpm and is becoming optional on the production models, the standard version coming with a Cuyuna 430R; a 2/1 reduction drive system for the 430R is also optional for $300 extra. The Ultavia is fitted with a yoke, rather than a stick. Its spoilers can be used differentially to control roll and together to act as air brakes. This machine comes as standard with a glass fibre nose cone, fitted with a Lexan transparent windscreen. The accent is put by the manufacturer on rapid rigging and de-rigging, with single surface resin-impregnated Dacron wings which can be rolled up around the spars and stored in a bag, like a Rogallo wing. A genuine 15 min rigging time is claimed.

The Ultavia was to be available during the summer of 1983, as a kit requiring 30h assembly at a price of $4595 (with a Cuyuna 430D) or factory built for $5395. A KFM 107ER engine costs $640 extra; an instrument panel is also available.

Engine: Cuyuna 430R
Max power 30hp at 5500rpm
Propeller diameter and pitch 54 x 17 inch, 1.37 x 0.43 m
Belt reduction, ratio 2.0/1
Power per unit area 0.19 hp/sq.ft, 2.1 hp/sq.m
Fuel capacity 5.0 US gal, 4.2 Imp gal, 18.9 litre
Wing span 32.0ft, 9.75m
Constant chord 5.0 ft, 1.52 m
Main wing area 155 sq.ft, 14.4 sq.m
Main wing aspect ratio 6.6/1
Nosewheel diameter overall 11 inch, 28 cm
Main wheels diameter overall 11 inch, 28cm
Empty weight 230 lb, 104kg
Max take-off weight 480 lb, 217kg
Payload 250 lb, 113kg
Max wing loading 3.09 lb/sq.ft, 15.1kg/sq.m
Max power loading 16.0lb/hp, 7.2kg/hp
Never exceed speed 55mph, 88kph
Stalling speed 24mph, 39 kph
Best glide ratio with power off 10/1
Take-off distance 150 ft, 45 m
Service ceiling 13,000 ft, 4000 m