Eipper Aircraft Quicksilver M / Quicksilver E

Quicksilver M

The Quicksilver monoplane hang glider was developed it into a powered glider. With its twin-boom tail support structure, an engine mounted from the wing center section it offers gen-tle and forgiving flight characteristics and is generally foot-launched, though landing gear can be added.

The first powered version being the Quicksilver M.

The Quicksilver E is a single-seat single-engined high-wing mono-plane with hybrid control. Wing has unswept leading and trailing edges, and constant chord; cruciform tail. Pitch control by eleva-tor on tail, assisted by weight-shift; yaw control by fully flying rudder, assisted by weight-shift; no separate roll control; control inputs through weight-shift for pitch/yaw/roll. Wing braced from above by kingpost and cables, from below by cables; wing profile single-surface. Undercarriage has three wheels in tricycle formation; with additional tailskid; torsion bar suspension on all wheels. No ground steering. No brakes. Aluminium tube framework, without pod. Engine mounted below wing driving pusher propeller.

Motorization was a logical step, since the Quicksilver hang-glider already had hybrid control, with its rudder linked by cables to the pilot's harness.

The hybrid version of the Quicksilver, the E, made its appearance in May 1982 and doesn't have a great many points in common with the early hybrids from this manufactur-er. It uses the tricycle undercarriage frame developed for the MX. The pilot's swing seat is connected to the rudder on the cruciform tail and also to a 'trimvator' elevator measuring 4 x 42 inch (10 x 107 cm), hinged from the trailing edge of the horizontal stabiliser. These elevators work to assist the weight-shift control of the pilot.

Units delivered to June 1981: 5,000. The type E is delivered as a kit requiring 15 h for assembly at a price of $3995 in the US in 1982. As well as the options available for the other single-seaters from Eipper Aircraft, the type E, which is fitted with a Cuyuna 215R 20 hp engine, can have the 430R 30 hp engine or one of the Rotax engines, options which are becoming increasingly popular.

Quicksilver Double-quick and Seaquick types were all hybrid control like the type E.

Quicksilver M
Engine: Yamaha KT-100, 15hp.

Quicksilver E
Engine: Cuyuna 215R, 20 hp at 5500 rpm.
Propeller diameter and pitch 52 x 32 inch, 1.32 x 0.81 m.
V-belt reduction, ratio 2.25/1.
Power per unit area 0.13 hp/sq.ft, 1.3 hp/sq.m.
Fuel capacity 2.5 US gal, 2.1 Imp gal, 9.5 litre.
Length overall 18.1 ft, 5.51 m.
Height overall 9.8ft, 2.93m.
Wing span 32.0ft, 9.75m.
Constant chord 5.0ft, 1.52 m.
Dihedral 15 degs.
Sweepback 0 degs.
Tailplane span 9.1 ft, 2.75 m.
Total wing area 160 sq.ft, 14.9 sq.m.
Rudder area 11.3 sq.ft, 1.05sq.m.
Tailplane area 19.5 sq.ft, 1.82sq.m .
Total elevator area 1.1 sq.ft, 0.11 sq.m.
Wing aspect ratio 6.4/1.
Wheel track 5.9ft, 1.75 m.
Wheelbase 5.5ft, 1.66 m.
Nosewheel diameter overall 12 inch, 30 cm.
Main wheels diameter overall 12 inch, 30 cm.
Empty weight 195 lb, 88kg.
Max take-off weight 415 lb, 188kg.
Payload 220 lb, 100kg.
Max wing loading 2.59lb/sq.ft, 12.6 kg/sq.m.
Max power loading 20.7 lb/hp, 9.4kg/hp.
Max level speed 42 mph, 67 kph.
Never exceed speed 60 mph, 97kph.
Max cruising speed 34mph, 54kph.
Stalling speed 19 mph, 30 kph.
Max climb rate at sea level 450 ft/min, 2.2 m/s.
Min sink rate 320ft/min, 1.6m/s.
Take-off distance 60ft, 18m.
Landing distance 50ft, 15m.
Service ceiling 9000ft, 2745m.
Range at average cruising speed 68 mile, 109km.