Ultravia Pelican
Encyclopedia
The Ultravia Pelican is the name given to two series of high wing, single engine, tractor configuration
ultralight aircraft that were designed by Jean Rene Lepage and produced in kit form for amateur construction
by Ultravia Aero International of Mascouche, Quebec
. The company later relocated to Gatineau, Quebec. The single seat Le Pelican series was produced from 1983–85 and the two seat Pelican series was built from 1985 until Ultravia went out of business in 2006.
The two seat Pelican design was acquired and put back into production in July 2008 by the New Kolb Aircraft
of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
, as the Kolb Flyer Super Sport.
four-stroke lawnmower engine. It was designed in the early 1980s and greatly resembles the Aeronca C-2
of 1929.
The original Le Pelican airframe is constructed from aluminum tubing , using gusset
s and pop rivets. The wing consists of a "D" cell with foam and aluminum ribs. All flying surfaces are covered in doped aircraft fabric. The very first Pelicans had wire-bracing for the wing and spoilers for roll control. These were replaced with strut-bracing
and one-third span aileron
s. The enclosed cabin, designed for Quebec winters included Lexan
doors. The Pelican's conventional landing gear consists of a fibreglass rod for the main gear, with a tail skid, that was on later models replaced by a steerable tail wheel.
The original Le Pelican was replaced in production by the single seat Super Pelican which has taller landing gear and a Half VW engine of 35 hp
The single seat Le Pelican production ran from 1983 to 1985, with about 100 kits delivered. Due to demand for two-seaters Lepage designed a new "clean-sheet" aircraft in 1984, which retained the same name as the earlier single seater. The two seat Pelican Club and its derivatives were built in large numbers, with more than 700 flying by 2003. The original Pelican Club has a fibreglass fuselage, aluminum frame wings with aircraft fabric covering
. The wings were later made all-metal and this model became the Pelican PL. The PL was available from the factory equipped with a 100 hp Rotax 912ULS or a 115 hp Rotax 914
turbo-charged engine. Options included tricycle
or conventional landing gear
.
Ultravia signed The New Kolb Aircraft Company as US distributor for the Pelican Sport 600 model in 2003. Kolb displayed the aircraft at Sun 'n Fun
and AirVenture between 2003 and 2005. Ultravia pursued certification of the Pelican Tutor model under CAR 523 VLA
, with the National Research Council conducting the test flying under contract, but Ultravia went out of business before completing certification. In 2006 Kolb purchased the assets of the bankrupt Ultravia and developed the aircraft, in partnership with Flyer Industria Aeronáutica LTDA of Brazil
into the present day Kolb Flyer Super Sport, based on pilot feedback gathered.
The Flyer SS's fuselage
is built from carbon fibre and weighs 77 lb (35 kg), while the wing is made from 6061-T6 and 2024-T3 aluminum. Power is provided by a 100 hp Rotax 912ULS aircraft engine, giving a cruise speed of 115 kn (225 km/h).
In 2007 Kolb sold the Pelican line to Ballard Sport Aircraft of Sherbrooke, Quebec
.
Super Pelican
Pelican Club
Pelican PL
Pelican Sport
Pelican Sport 600
Pelican Tutor
Flyer Super Sport (Flyer SS)
Pelican AULA 600
Tractor configuration
thumb|right|[[Evektor-Aerotechnik|Aerotechnik EV97A Eurostar]], a tractor configuration aircraft, being pulled into position by its pilot for refuelling....
ultralight aircraft that were designed by Jean Rene Lepage and produced in kit form for amateur construction
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:...
by Ultravia Aero International of Mascouche, Quebec
Mascouche, Quebec
Mascouche is a suburban city north of Montreal in southern Quebec, Canada. The city is located on the Mascouche River and has a population of 33,764, ranking 30th among Quebec municipalities.The current mayor is Richard Marcotte.- Infrastructure :...
. The company later relocated to Gatineau, Quebec. The single seat Le Pelican series was produced from 1983–85 and the two seat Pelican series was built from 1985 until Ultravia went out of business in 2006.
The two seat Pelican design was acquired and put back into production in July 2008 by the New Kolb Aircraft
New Kolb Aircraft
The New Kolb Aircraft Company is an American aircraft manufacturer that produces kitplanes for amateur construction.-History:Homer Kolb first flew his initial commercial design, the Kolb Flyer, in 1970. The aircraft was ahead of its time and so Kolb waited until the ultralight aircraft boom of...
of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Phoenixville is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Philadelphia, at the junction of French Creek with the Schuylkill River. The population is 16,440 as of the 2010 Census.- History :...
, as the Kolb Flyer Super Sport.
Design and development
The first Le Pelican was designed as a single seat aircraft powered by a two-cylinder 18 hp Briggs & StrattonBriggs & Stratton
Briggs & Stratton is the world's largest manufacturer of air-cooled gasoline engines primarily for outdoor power equipment. Current production averages 11 million engines per year.-History:...
four-stroke lawnmower engine. It was designed in the early 1980s and greatly resembles the Aeronca C-2
Aeronca C-2
-See also:-External links:*...
of 1929.
The original Le Pelican airframe is constructed from aluminum tubing , using gusset
Gusset
In sewing, a gusset is a triangular or rhomboid piece of fabric inserted into a seam to add breadth or reduce stress from tight-fitting clothing...
s and pop rivets. The wing consists of a "D" cell with foam and aluminum ribs. All flying surfaces are covered in doped aircraft fabric. The very first Pelicans had wire-bracing for the wing and spoilers for roll control. These were replaced with strut-bracing
Strut
A strut is a structural component designed to resist longitudinal compression. Struts provide outwards-facing support in their lengthwise direction, which can be used to keep two other components separate, performing the opposite function of a tie...
and one-third span aileron
Aileron
Ailerons are hinged flight control surfaces attached to the trailing edge of the wing of a fixed-wing aircraft. The ailerons are used to control the aircraft in roll, which results in a change in heading due to the tilting of the lift vector...
s. The enclosed cabin, designed for Quebec winters included Lexan
Lexan
Lexan is a registered trademark for SABIC Innovative Plastics' brand of polycarbonate resin thermoplastic. Polycarbonate polymer is produced by reacting bisphenol A with carbonyl dichloride, also known as phosgene. Lexan is the brand name for polycarbonate sheet and resin in a wide range of grades...
doors. The Pelican's conventional landing gear consists of a fibreglass rod for the main gear, with a tail skid, that was on later models replaced by a steerable tail wheel.
The original Le Pelican was replaced in production by the single seat Super Pelican which has taller landing gear and a Half VW engine of 35 hp
The single seat Le Pelican production ran from 1983 to 1985, with about 100 kits delivered. Due to demand for two-seaters Lepage designed a new "clean-sheet" aircraft in 1984, which retained the same name as the earlier single seater. The two seat Pelican Club and its derivatives were built in large numbers, with more than 700 flying by 2003. The original Pelican Club has a fibreglass fuselage, aluminum frame wings with aircraft fabric covering
Aircraft fabric covering
Aircraft fabric covering is a term used for both the material used and the process of covering aircraft open structures. It is also used for reinforcing closed plywood structures, the de Havilland Mosquito being an example of this technique....
. The wings were later made all-metal and this model became the Pelican PL. The PL was available from the factory equipped with a 100 hp Rotax 912ULS or a 115 hp Rotax 914
Rotax 914
-References:*...
turbo-charged engine. Options included tricycle
Tricycle gear
Tricycle gear describes an aircraft undercarriage, or landing gear, arranged in a tricycle fashion. The tricycle arrangement has one wheel in the front, called the nose wheel, and two or more main wheels slightly aft of the center of gravity...
or conventional landing gear
Conventional landing gear
thumb|The [[Piper PA-18|Piper Super Cub]] is a popular taildragger aircraft.thumb|right|A [[Cessna 150]] converted to taildragger configuration by installation of an after-market modification kit....
.
Ultravia signed The New Kolb Aircraft Company as US distributor for the Pelican Sport 600 model in 2003. Kolb displayed the aircraft at Sun 'n Fun
Sun 'n Fun
Sun 'n Fun is a "Fly-in" and airshow held annually at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida, usually during the second or third week of April....
and AirVenture between 2003 and 2005. Ultravia pursued certification of the Pelican Tutor model under CAR 523 VLA
Canadian Aviation Regulations
The Canadian Aviation Regulations are the rules that govern civil aviation in Canada.-Establishment:The CARs became law on October 10, 1996 replacing the former Air Regulations and Air Navigation Orders. The authority for the establishment of the CARs is the Aeronautics Act...
, with the National Research Council conducting the test flying under contract, but Ultravia went out of business before completing certification. In 2006 Kolb purchased the assets of the bankrupt Ultravia and developed the aircraft, in partnership with Flyer Industria Aeronáutica LTDA of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
into the present day Kolb Flyer Super Sport, based on pilot feedback gathered.
The Flyer SS's fuselage
Fuselage
The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
is built from carbon fibre and weighs 77 lb (35 kg), while the wing is made from 6061-T6 and 2024-T3 aluminum. Power is provided by a 100 hp Rotax 912ULS aircraft engine, giving a cruise speed of 115 kn (225 km/h).
In 2007 Kolb sold the Pelican line to Ballard Sport Aircraft of Sherbrooke, Quebec
Sherbrooke, Quebec
Sherbrooke is a Canadian city in southern Quebec. Sherbrooke is situated at the confluence of the Saint-François and Magog rivers in the heart of the Estrie administrative region. Sherbrooke is also the name of a territory equivalent to a regional county municipality and census division of...
.
Variants
Le Pelican- Original single seat model, powered by a two-cylinder 18 hp Briggs and Stratton four stroke lawnmower engine and featuring low landing gear.
Super Pelican
- Improved single seat model with higher main landing gear and powered by a 35 hp Half VW engine.
Pelican Club
- Two seat side-by-side model with fabric covered wing introduced in 1985.
Pelican PL
- Two seat side-by-side model powered by a 100 hp Rotax 912ULS or 115 hp Rotax 914Rotax 914-References:*...
and introduced in 1991. The PL could be built as a conventional landing gearConventional landing gearthumb|The [[Piper PA-18|Piper Super Cub]] is a popular taildragger aircraft.thumb|right|A [[Cessna 150]] converted to taildragger configuration by installation of an after-market modification kit....
or tricycle gearTricycle gearTricycle gear describes an aircraft undercarriage, or landing gear, arranged in a tricycle fashion. The tricycle arrangement has one wheel in the front, called the nose wheel, and two or more main wheels slightly aft of the center of gravity...
aircraft, with optional skis, floats or amphibious floats available. Gross weight 1400 lb (635 kg).
Pelican Sport
- Development of the PL with a new longer span wing and a higher lift airfoilAirfoilAn airfoil or aerofoil is the shape of a wing or blade or sail as seen in cross-section....
, introduced in 1998. Wing includes a STOL kit with drooping ailerons. Gross weight 1232 lb (559 kg) for the Canadian advanced ultralight category.
Pelican Sport 600
- Development of the Pelican Sport with a 600 kg (1,323 lb) gross weight for the US Light sport aircraft category.
Pelican Tutor
- Proposed certified version, certification was never completed.
Flyer Super Sport (Flyer SS)
- Redesigned and developed version of the Sport 600, introduced in July 2008 and in production by New Kolb AircraftNew Kolb AircraftThe New Kolb Aircraft Company is an American aircraft manufacturer that produces kitplanes for amateur construction.-History:Homer Kolb first flew his initial commercial design, the Kolb Flyer, in 1970. The aircraft was ahead of its time and so Kolb waited until the ultralight aircraft boom of...
.
Pelican AULA 600
- Factory assembled model for the Canadian AULAAulaAula may refer to:*Atrium *Avola, a city in Sicily *Aula, Eritrea, a village in western Eritrea*Ultralight aircraft , Advanced ultra-light aeroplane...
category.
