First US-Corsair ready for take-off

For quite some time we notice a strong interest from the US-market and last year we built the first Corsair for our American customer. The result is a great aircraft, fully corresponding to the US regulations for „Part 103 vehicles“ and with nearly the same flight characteristics as the European version.

The FAA regulations for a Part 103 ultralight are similar to the European regulations for „light aircraft“ but differ in a few points which had to be considered as there are:

• Max. stall speed 24 kt
• Max. horizontal speed 55kt
• Max. fuel tank volume 5 USG
• Max. empty weight 254 lbs + rescue system weight

In addition to the technical challenges in terms of a further reduced weight, as well as the horizontal and stall speed, there were also special requests from our customers such as double ignition and an exclusive livery design for the aircraft.

One thing was clear from the very start: Despite the necessary weight savings, the US version should – at a slightly reduced maximum weight - have the same strength and safety margins as the European version.

With a modified neutral setting of the flaperons and the additional flaps at the inner wing (see both photos) the stall speed – after some test flights and fine tuning - could be reduced to 24 kt.

The max. horizontal speed of 55 kt could be achieved through wing changes, replica landing gear doors (see left photo) and an adapted propeller.

In addition to the flights from Stade airfield, this time we did numerous test flights in Rotenburg/Wümme (EDXQ) and would like to thank the entire airfield team for the warm welcome, helpfulness and assistance provided.

In order to turn the 120 kg Corsair into a Corsair Part 103, numerous changes were necessary, so that the first flight with the American version was carried out like on a new model.

Already during the first test flights it turned out that this version also has an unchanged high level of maneuverability – not surprising, because the weight is even slightly lower compared to the European version.

Despite the changes that have been made, the Corsair is still very good-natured and especially the stall behavior gives no reason for concerns.

Thanks to the low pitch propeller, the take-off distance is extremely short and the Corsair climbs even better. Very short landings are also possible, with a little headwind you almost have a “vertical landing aircraft”.

Compared to the European version the maneuver speed as well as the maximum speed are not reduced and the safe loading is still +6 and -4g. Even with standard maneuvers you can already guess how the pilots in the original Corsairs felt at the time...

In the end, we were astonished that neither the performance data nor the flight characteristics had changed significantly as a result of the modifications. And flying with this version is definitely a lot of fun!