Outwardly reminiscent of the Long EZ, the new composite canard used the Burt Rutan design as a starting point. Added to the aerodynamic appeal is fully retractable landing gear, split canopies, a 205 hp engine and a longer, wider pre moulded fuselage. Named after the Berkut (Berkoot), a Russian Golden Eagle, by designer Dave Ronnenberg, the new craft uses a Lycoming 0 360 to provide a cruise of 208 knots indicated at 8000 feet on 2840rpm. Constructed of carbon fibre and fibreglass a balsa core sandwich with a safety epoxy matrix the canard pusher has an overall length of some 18 foot 6in. The cockpit features a sidearm controller/stick with HOTAS (Hands On Throttle and Stick Controls). Going through its test programme in 1991 with manufacturing company Experimental Aviation, the aircraft has a claimed range of 1,400 nm at 65 percent power. Other preliminary specifications include a 2000 fpm ROC, 54 knots minimum controllable airspeed gear down, an endur¬ance of 5.5 hours at 65 percent power, a ceiling of 35,000 feet, maximum useful load of 965 lbs and an empty weight of 1,035 lbs.
The prototype Berkut was designed and built by Dave H. Ronneberg and Kerry Beresford.
Like the Long EZ, the Berkut carries 2 people in tandem seats. The front seat occupant has access to all instrumentation and controls. The rear seat, normally holding the passenger, is equipped with a side stick and throttle, but no rudder pedals, brakes, or instruments.
Out of 57 kits sold by 1998, 7 were finished.
Builder Jerrold Jorritsma installed a General Electric T-58 jet engine in his Berkut.
It was destroyed following an engine failure in Loveland, CO, May 9, 2010.
Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1A, 205 hp. HP range: 180-205. Height: 7.5 ft. Length: 18.5 ft. Wing span: 26.67 ft. Wing area: 110 sq.ft. Weight empty: 1035 lbs. Gross: 2000 lbs. Fuel cap: 58 USG. Speed max: 250 mph. Cruise: 209 mph. Range: 1228 sm. Stall: 62 mph. ROC: 2000 fpm. Take-off dist: 1000 ft. Landing dist: 1000 ft. Service ceiling: 29,500 ft. Seats: 2. Landing gear: retractable nose wheel.
Four versions of this aircraft (LSA) were produced: the standard series and the wide body model, the stretch model and four stroke model. The kit for the Excalibur II features prebuilt tail surfaces, wings, ailerons end fuselage, and all the controls are already installed. Build time for the kit is estimated at 100 to 200 hours. Options include: 60-hp HKS 700E air-cooled 4-stroke or 4O-hp Rotax 447 air- cooled 2-stroke engine, instruments (ASI, altimeter, tach, dual CHT dual EGT, panel-mounted compass, ignition switch), standard or amphibious floats, fiberglass wheel pants, BRS ballstic emergency parachute, doors, strobe lights and paint materials. Construction is 6061-T6 and 2024-T3 aluminum tube airframe with chromoly steel weldments where needed, stainless steel pop rivets and AN or military spec hardware. Wings and surfaces are covered with Superflite fabric. No welding or machining is necessary and all the critical work is completed at the factory.
Standard Engine; Rotax 503 (52HP) Wingspan; 31 ft. 6 in. Chord; 60 in Length; 20 ft. 0 in. Height; 6 ft. 0 in. Wing area; 185 sq.ft. Empty weight; 450 lbs. Useful load; 500 lbs. MTOW; 900 lb Ultimate load factor; +6 -4 Build time; 100-200 hours Field assembly time; 20 min. VNE; 100 mph Top level speed; 90mph Cruise speed; 50-90 mph Stall speed; 30-35 mph Climb rate; 1200 fpm solo, 700 ft. dual Take off roll; 96 ft.solo, 196 ft. dual Glide ratio; 11:1 solo, 9:1 dual Service ceiling; 14,000 solo, 12,500 dual Range; 290 sm Fuel used at cruise; 2.3 gph to 4 gph Fuel capacity; 10 gal. (U.S.) Cockpit width Standard Body; 26 inches Seats: 2 Tandem Undercarriage; nose wheel LSA
Excalibur Wide Body Engine: Rotax 503, 52 hp HP range: 52-65 Cruise: 80 mph Stall: 33 mph Range: 290 sm Rate of climb: 1200 fpm Takeoff dist: 100 ft Landing dist: 300 ft Fuel capacity: 20 USG Empty weight: 450 lb Gross weight: 950 lb Length: 20 ft Wing span: 32 ft Wing area: 183 sq.ft Cockpit width: 31 in Seats: 2 Landing gear: nose wheel LSA
Excalibur Four Stroke Engine: Rotax 582, 65 hp Cruise: 80 mph Stall: 33 mph Range: 290 sm Rate of climb: 1200 fpm Takeoff dist: 96 ft Landing dist: 300 ft Fuel capacity: 20 USG Empty weight: 470 lb Gross weight: 950 lb Length: 20 ft Wing span: 31.5 ft Wing area: 183 sq.ft Cockpit width: 26 in Seats: 2 Landing gear: nose wheel LSA
Premiere in April 2017, E-Volo celebrated the first series model of a passenger multicopter. Also known as MultiCopter, the Volocopter is a personal aerial vehicle made of fiber composite material in light-weight design. It runs on an all-electric propulsion system for its 18 rotors powered by 9 independent batteries.
The 2X is the consequent evolution of the VC200 prototype towards everyday use. Its battery replacement system makes it ready for operation again in only a few minutes. The sporty design includes a cockpit that comfortably seats 2 adults. Developed from the VC1, a radio controlled VC200 performed a first flight on November 17, 2013 in the dm-arena in Karlsruhe. The flight with the VC1 in October 2011 lasted precisely 90 seconds. Following several indoor-flights of several minutes’ duration with a number of gentle starts and landings, all the expectations upon the Volocopter are exceeded.
The innovative concept of the electric VTOL aircraft was able to so convince the German Federal Ministry of Transport that it resolves upon a trialing scheme spanning a period of several years for the creation of a new aviation category for the Volocopter. The DULV (The German Ultralight Association) is commissioned with drafting a manufacturing specification, operating regulations and the training scheme for the future pilots in cooperation with e-volo in January 2013.
The Volocopter VC200 received the permit-to-fly as an ultralight aircraft from German aviation authorities in February 2016. The first manned flight took place on March 30, 2016.
Very simple REAL Ultralight Aircraft for flyweight pilots. Delivered as kit package or ready to fly planes by Evgenij Kovalenko with several engine choices. 2009 Price: 6200 EURO
The Everson brothers went on to build several aircraft, including one with a single-seat twin-engined design called Evo III. This aircraft, in which the pilot’s head was inches away from the propeller tips, was initially condemned by the authorities. Nevertheless it remains the only twin-engined homebuilt aircraft made in New Zealand.
