Aircraft Sales and Parts
Encyclopedia
Aircraft Sales and Parts (ASAP) is a Canadian
kit aircraft
and parts manufacturer, based in Vernon, British Columbia
.
ASAP produces a line of single and two place ultralight kit aircraft, powered parachutes and parts though the parent company and also through its divisions Summit Powered Parachutes, Steel Breeze Powered Parachutes, ppccanopies.com and ulparts.com.
two-seat ultralight and when Birdman Enterprises
went out of business in late 1987 it left Chinook owners without a source of parts.
Initially the company was started to provide Chinook parts, but Holomis proceeded to redesign the Chinook with assistance from Dr David Marsden at the University of Alberta
, who had been involved in the first Chinook design. In 1989 ASAP unveiled the improved ASAP Chinook Plus 2
. With the acquisition of Canadian Ultralight Manufacturing in St Paul, Alberta who had manufactured the earlier Chinook WT11
and WT2S, the Chinook Plus 2 was placed into production.
In 1992 Spectrum Aircraft
of Surrey, British Columbia
, the manufacturer of the Spectrum Beaver
aircraft line, went out of business and the following year ASAP began making parts for the existing RX-28, RX-35 and RX-550 Beaver fleet. In 1996, after a similar development program to the Chinook Plus 2, ASAP introduced an improved two-seat Beaver, designated the RX-550 Plus. In 2000 ASAP introduced the Beaver SS
(single seat) to replace the RX-28 and RX-35 single seat Beavers that had gone out of production with Spectrum's 1992 demise.
ASAP at one time owned GSC Propellers who made a line of wooden blade, aluminum hub, ground adjustable propellers for the ultralight aircraft market. Founded in 1984 GSC Propellers initially operated from the ASAP Vernon facility. The company was sold in 2000 and, while still located in Vernon, changed its name to GSC Systems in 2004.
In the late 1990s ASAP decided to develop a line of aluminum-framed powered parachute
s. These were developed and are manufactured in-house at ASAP, but marketed by a separate division, Summit Powered Parachutes International. The models presently consist of the two place Summit 2 and the single-seat Summit SS.
ASAP also designed two welded steel tube-frame powered parachute models especially for the US
market. These are manufactured by ASAP and marketed by another corporate division, Steel Breeze Powered Parachutes. This division currently offers two models, the Steel Breeze Two Place and the United States ultralight category FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles
compliant 103 Mini Steel Breeze.
The corporate division, www.ppccanopies.com sells powered parachute and powered paraglider canopies, while www.ulparts.com provides engines and ultralight parts. ASAP itself provides parts for the legacy Birdman Chinook
and Spectrum Beaver
aircraft fleets.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
kit aircraft
Homebuilt aircraft
Also known as amateur-built aircraft or kit planes, homebuilt aircraft are constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity. These aircraft may be constructed from "scratch," from plans, or from assembly kits.-Overview:...
and parts manufacturer, based in Vernon, British Columbia
Vernon, British Columbia
Vernon is a city in the south-central region of British Columbia, Canada. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former MLA of British Columbia who helped found the famed Coldstream Ranch, the City of Vernon was incorporated on December 30, 1892. The City of Vernon has a population of 35,944 , while...
.
ASAP produces a line of single and two place ultralight kit aircraft, powered parachutes and parts though the parent company and also through its divisions Summit Powered Parachutes, Steel Breeze Powered Parachutes, ppccanopies.com and ulparts.com.
History
The company was founded by Brent Holomis in 1988. Holomis owned a Birdman Chinook WT2SBirdman Chinook
The Birdman Chinook is a family of single and two-place, pusher configuration, high-wing ultralight aircraft that was first flown on 12 December 1982 and produced by Birdman Enterprises of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada starting in 1983....
two-seat ultralight and when Birdman Enterprises
Birdman Enterprises
This article is about the Canadian ultralight manufacturer. For the unrelated US ultralight manufacturer, see Birdman AircraftBirdman Enterprises Limited was a Canadian aircraft manufacturer that commenced business in 1973 and became well known for its line of hang gliders and later its ultralight...
went out of business in late 1987 it left Chinook owners without a source of parts.
Initially the company was started to provide Chinook parts, but Holomis proceeded to redesign the Chinook with assistance from Dr David Marsden at the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
, who had been involved in the first Chinook design. In 1989 ASAP unveiled the improved ASAP Chinook Plus 2
Birdman Chinook
The Birdman Chinook is a family of single and two-place, pusher configuration, high-wing ultralight aircraft that was first flown on 12 December 1982 and produced by Birdman Enterprises of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada starting in 1983....
. With the acquisition of Canadian Ultralight Manufacturing in St Paul, Alberta who had manufactured the earlier Chinook WT11
Birdman Chinook
The Birdman Chinook is a family of single and two-place, pusher configuration, high-wing ultralight aircraft that was first flown on 12 December 1982 and produced by Birdman Enterprises of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada starting in 1983....
and WT2S, the Chinook Plus 2 was placed into production.
In 1992 Spectrum Aircraft
Spectrum Aircraft
Spectrum Aircraft was a Canadian ultralight aircraft manufacturer that commenced operations in 1983 and went out of business in 1992. The company was known for its Beaver ultralight design, which remains in production by successor companies in the 21st century....
of Surrey, British Columbia
Surrey, British Columbia
Surrey is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is a member municipality of Metro Vancouver, the governing body of the Greater Vancouver Regional District...
, the manufacturer of the Spectrum Beaver
Spectrum Beaver
The Spectrum Beaver is a family of single and two-place, pusher configuration, high-wing ultralight aircraft that were first introduced by Spectrum Aircraft of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada in 1983....
aircraft line, went out of business and the following year ASAP began making parts for the existing RX-28, RX-35 and RX-550 Beaver fleet. In 1996, after a similar development program to the Chinook Plus 2, ASAP introduced an improved two-seat Beaver, designated the RX-550 Plus. In 2000 ASAP introduced the Beaver SS
Spectrum Beaver
The Spectrum Beaver is a family of single and two-place, pusher configuration, high-wing ultralight aircraft that were first introduced by Spectrum Aircraft of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada in 1983....
(single seat) to replace the RX-28 and RX-35 single seat Beavers that had gone out of production with Spectrum's 1992 demise.
ASAP at one time owned GSC Propellers who made a line of wooden blade, aluminum hub, ground adjustable propellers for the ultralight aircraft market. Founded in 1984 GSC Propellers initially operated from the ASAP Vernon facility. The company was sold in 2000 and, while still located in Vernon, changed its name to GSC Systems in 2004.
In the late 1990s ASAP decided to develop a line of aluminum-framed powered parachute
Powered parachute
A powered parachute is a parachute with motor and wheels. The aircraft's airspeed is typically about 25–35 mph . PPCs operate safely at heights ranging from a few feet off the ground to altitudes as high as 18,000+ feet...
s. These were developed and are manufactured in-house at ASAP, but marketed by a separate division, Summit Powered Parachutes International. The models presently consist of the two place Summit 2 and the single-seat Summit SS.
ASAP also designed two welded steel tube-frame powered parachute models especially for the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
market. These are manufactured by ASAP and marketed by another corporate division, Steel Breeze Powered Parachutes. This division currently offers two models, the Steel Breeze Two Place and the United States ultralight category FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles
Ultralight aircraft (United States)
Ultralight aircraft in the United States are much smaller and lighter than ultralight aircraft in all other countries.In the USA ultralights are classified as vehicles and not aircraft and are thus not required to be registered or for the pilot to have a pilot licence or certificate.- US definition...
compliant 103 Mini Steel Breeze.
The corporate division, www.ppccanopies.com sells powered parachute and powered paraglider canopies, while www.ulparts.com provides engines and ultralight parts. ASAP itself provides parts for the legacy Birdman Chinook
Birdman Chinook
The Birdman Chinook is a family of single and two-place, pusher configuration, high-wing ultralight aircraft that was first flown on 12 December 1982 and produced by Birdman Enterprises of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada starting in 1983....
and Spectrum Beaver
Spectrum Beaver
The Spectrum Beaver is a family of single and two-place, pusher configuration, high-wing ultralight aircraft that were first introduced by Spectrum Aircraft of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada in 1983....
aircraft fleets.
Aircraft
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook Plus 2 Birdman Chinook The Birdman Chinook is a family of single and two-place, pusher configuration, high-wing ultralight aircraft that was first flown on 12 December 1982 and produced by Birdman Enterprises of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada starting in 1983.... |
Two-place fixed wing ultralight | ||
| Beaver RX-550 Plus Spectrum Beaver The Spectrum Beaver is a family of single and two-place, pusher configuration, high-wing ultralight aircraft that were first introduced by Spectrum Aircraft of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada in 1983.... |
Two-place fixed wing ultralight | ||
| Beaver SS Spectrum Beaver The Spectrum Beaver is a family of single and two-place, pusher configuration, high-wing ultralight aircraft that were first introduced by Spectrum Aircraft of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada in 1983.... |
10 (2007) | Single-place fixed wing ultralight | |
| Summit 2 | Two-place powered parachute | ||
| Summit SS | Single-place powered parachute | ||
| Steel Breeze Two Place | Two-place powered parachute | ||
| 103 Mini Steel Breeze | Single-place powered parachute | ||