The Freebird II is a family of
American side-by-side two-seat, high wing,
tricycle gear,
pusher configuration
In an aircraft with a pusher configuration (as opposed to a tractor configuration), the propeller(s) are mounted behind their respective engine(s). Since a pusher propeller is mounted behind the engine, the drive shaft is in compression in nor ...
single engined
kit aircraft originally designed for construction by amateur builders by the
Freebird Airplane Company
Free Bird Innovations, Inc. is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and formed in about 2003. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of ultralight aircraft in the form of plans and kits for amate ...
of
Marshville, North Carolina, and later
Pro Sport Aviation
Free Bird Innovations, Inc. is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and formed in about 2003. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of ultralight aircraft in the form of plans and kits for amate ...
of
Wingate, North Carolina.
[Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page B-81 Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ][Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', page 166. BAI Communications. ][Downey, Julia: ''Kit Aircraft Directory 2005'', Kitplanes, Volume 21, Number 12, December 2004, page 60. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851][Downey, Julia: ''2008 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 53. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851]
The Freebird II was produced until late 2014 by
Free Bird Innovations of
Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, as the LiteSport Classic.
[Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 56. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X]
Development
The Freebird I was introduced at
Sun 'n Fun
Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo (officially styled SUN 'n FUN) is a nonprofit organization in Lakeland, Florida dedicated to the promotion of aviation education. It is best known for the annual week-long fly-in and airshow at Lakeland Linder Intern ...
1996, and was intended to meet the requirements of the US
FAR 103 ''Ultralight Vehicles'' category under the two-seat trainer exemption, although it is now offered in the US
Light Sport Aircraft or
amateur-built categories.
The Freebird II is constructed from bolted
aluminum tubing, covered with doped
aircraft fabric. The aircraft features conventional three-axis controls, including a trim system. The tricycle landing gear is steered by differential braking and a castering nosewheel. The company estimated that an average builder would take 120 hours to build the aircraft from the assembly kit.
The standard engine recommended is the two-stroke
Rotax 503 and with this engine the standard empty weight is . The
Rotax 582 is also used.
The Freebird II's wings can be folded in five minutes by one person and the aircraft can then be trailered or stored. Options available included full cabin doors,
flaperons, brakes,
wheel pants and a custom-fitted trailer.
Variants
;Freebird II
:Initial version, two seats in side-by-side configuration, wingspan,
Rotax 503, built by Freebird Airplane Company.
;Sportlite SS
:Improved version, two seats in side-by-side configuration, wingspan,
Rotax 503, built by Free Bird Innovations.
;Sportlite 2
:Improved version, two seats in side-by-side configuration, wingspan,
Rotax 503, built by Free Bird Innovations.
;LiteSport II
:Improved version, two seats in tandem configuration, wingspan,
Rotax 503, built by Free Bird Innovations. 352 examples had been completed and flown by 2011.
[Vandermeullen, Richard: ''2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide'', Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 55. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851]
;LiteSport Classic
:Current production version, two seats in side-by-side configuration, wingspan,
Rotax 503 or
Rotax 582, built by Free Bird Innovations. 102 examples had been completed and flown by 2011.
[Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: ''World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16'', page 56. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ]
Specifications (Freebird II)
See also
References
External links
*
{{Free Bird Innovations
Free Bird Innovations aircraft
1990s United States ultralight aircraft
Light-sport aircraft
Single-engined pusher aircraft