Spectrum Aircraft
Encyclopedia
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.
, a single-seat, high wing ultralight aircraft powered by a 28 hp Rotax 277
single cylinder, two stroke powerplant. It was introduced in 1983 and gained quick popularity in Canada and the USA. The following year the RX-28 was joined in production by the RX-35
, which used the 35 hp Rotax 377
engine.
In 1986 the company started production of a two-seat version of the Beaver, designated the RX 550
and powered by a Rotax 503
50 hp engine. This model proved very popular as both a trainer
and for private use and propelled the company into the forefront of ultralight aircraft production in North America.
In 1991 the company introduced the RX-650 Beaver
, intending to market it in the then-newly introduced Canadian Advanced Ultra-light Aeroplane (AULA) category that allows passenger carrying. The aircraft proved to have structural issues that caused Transport Canada
to remove it from the AULA list. The company went out of business in 1992, before rectifying the deficiencies in the RX-650's design.
(ASAP) of Vernon, British Columbia
purchased the RX-550 tooling and redesigned the aircraft. The new version was designated the RX 550 Plus
and remains in production in kit
form. By the end of 2007 a total of 2000 RX 550s had been produced by all manufacturers.
In 2000 ASAP introduced a single seat version of the Beaver based on the RX-28, designated the Beaver SS
(Single Seat). Powered by a 40 hp Rotax 447
engine and with a wing derived from the RX 550 Plus design, this aircraft remains in kit production.
and the company placed the aircraft in the Canadian AULA category. Freedom Lite soon went out of business and the design was acquired by Legend Lite of New Hamburg, Ontario
. This new company also closed its doors in the early 2000s.
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...
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.
History
Sprectrum's first product was the RX-28 BeaverSpectrum 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....
, a single-seat, high wing ultralight aircraft powered by a 28 hp Rotax 277
Rotax 277
|-Specifications :-See also:...
single cylinder, two stroke powerplant. It was introduced in 1983 and gained quick popularity in Canada and the USA. The following year the RX-28 was joined in production by the RX-35
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....
, which used the 35 hp Rotax 377
Rotax 377
|-See also:...
engine.
In 1986 the company started production of a two-seat version of the Beaver, designated the RX 550
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....
and powered by a Rotax 503
Rotax 503
|-Specifications :...
50 hp engine. This model proved very popular as both a trainer
Trainer (aircraft)
A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate in-flight training of pilots and aircrews. The use of a dedicated trainer aircraft with additional safety features—such as tandem flight controls, forgiving flight characteristics and a simplified cockpit arrangement—allows...
and for private use and propelled the company into the forefront of ultralight aircraft production in North America.
In 1991 the company introduced the RX-650 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....
, intending to market it in the then-newly introduced Canadian Advanced Ultra-light Aeroplane (AULA) category that allows passenger carrying. The aircraft proved to have structural issues that caused Transport Canada
Transport Canada
Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
to remove it from the AULA list. The company went out of business in 1992, before rectifying the deficiencies in the RX-650's design.
Beaver RX Enterprises
The RX-550 design was acquired by a new company, Beaver RX Enterprises, who returned the aircraft to production. The company did not last long and soon went out of business.Aircraft Sales and Parts
In 1995 Aircraft Sales and PartsAircraft Sales and Parts
Aircraft Sales and Parts 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...
(ASAP) of 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...
purchased the RX-550 tooling and redesigned the aircraft. The new version was designated the 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....
and remains in production in kit
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:...
form. By the end of 2007 a total of 2000 RX 550s had been produced by all manufacturers.
In 2000 ASAP introduced a single seat version of the Beaver based on the RX-28, designated 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). Powered by a 40 hp Rotax 447
Rotax 447
|-Specifications :...
engine and with a wing derived from the RX 550 Plus design, this aircraft remains in kit production.
Freedom Lite & Legend Lite
In 1996 a new company, Freedom Lite, introduced a redesigned version of the Beaver RX 650. This improved RX 650 incorporated 186 changes over the previous version and was designated the SS-11 SkywatchSpectrum 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....
and the company placed the aircraft in the Canadian AULA category. Freedom Lite soon went out of business and the design was acquired by Legend Lite of New Hamburg, Ontario
New Hamburg, Ontario
New Hamburg is a community of approximately 8,739 in Wilmot Township, a rural township of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario...
. This new company also closed its doors in the early 2000s.
Aircraft
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver RX-28 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 ultralight aircraft | ||
| Beaver RX-35 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 ultralight aircraft | ||
| Beaver RX-550 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 seat ultralight aircraft | ||
| Beaver RX-650 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 seat ultralight aircraft | ||