Carlson Sparrow Explained

The Carlson Sparrow is a family of American, high wing, strut-braced, single engine, ultralight aircraft that was designed by Ernst W. Carlson and produced by Carlson Aircraft of East Palestine, Ohio and later Skyline Technologies of Salem, Ohio for amateur construction.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Design and development

First flown in 1987, the original Sparrow Ultralight is a single seater designed as an FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles compliant aircraft with an empty weight within that category's 2540NaN0 empty weight limit, when equipped with a light enough engine. The Sparrow can also be built in the US homebuilt and light-sport aircraft categories.

The aircraft has a 4130 steel tube frame fuselage and a wing constructed with dual aluminium I-beam spars, with stamped aluminum wing ribs, all covered in doped fabric. The wings are supported by V-struts and jury struts. The landing gear is bungee suspended. The Sparrow has a fully enclosed cockpit design, allowing flying in cooler weather. The Sparrow was available as a kit that includes a pre-welded fuselage and quick-build wings. The power range is 20to and the original standard engine specified was the 280NaN0 Rotax 277 with the 500NaN0 Rotax 503 as an option, although the additional weight puts the aircraft in the US homebuilt category. Other lightweight engines employed include the 220NaN0 Zenoah G-25 and the 200NaN0 2si 215.

The Sparrow can be equipped with skis for winter operations. Construction times from the kit are reported to be 400–500 hours.

The design was named Grand Champion at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh upon its introduction in 1987.

Variants

Sparrow Ultralight
  • Original single seat, high wing, US FAR Part 103 ultralight, with tricycle or conventional landing gear, powered by a 280NaN0 Rotax 277 or homebuilt aircraft powered by 450NaN0 Rotax 503 engine. About 100 were reported flying in 2001. Production completed.
    Sparrow II
  • Two seat side-by-side seating, high wing, US homebuilt development of the single seat Sparrow UL, with tricycle gear and an optional folding wing for transport or storage, powered by a 640NaN0 Rotax 582. Empty weight of 5100NaN0 and gross weight 10500NaN0. 60 were reported flying in 2004. Production completed.
    Sparrow Sport Special
  • Single seat, high wing, US homebuilt, with conventional landing gear, powered by a 500NaN0 Rotax 503. Empty weight of 3600NaN0 and gross weight 7100NaN0. 37 were reported flying in 2007. Production completed.
    Sparrow II XTC
  • Two seat side-by-side seating with dual controls, high wing, US homebuilt, higher-powered development of the Sparrow II, with tricycle gear, powered by an 820NaN0 Subaru EA-81, 850NaN0 Continental C-85 or 800NaN0 Rotax 912UL. The fastest Sparrow with a cruise of 1100NaN0. Empty weight of 6000NaN0 and gross weight 12500NaN0. 34 were reported flying in 2007. Production completed.

    Notes and References

    1. Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page B-57. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001.
    2. Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 42. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
    3. Downey, Julia: 2001 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 12, December 2000, page 39. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851
    4. Newby-Gonzalez, Tori: 2004 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 20, Number 12, December 2003, page 51-52. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
    5. Downey, Julia: 2005 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 21, Number 12, December 2004, page 52. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
    6. Downey, Julia: 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 72. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
    7. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, pages 138-139. BAI Communications.
    8. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 131. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
    9. Web site: Carlson Aircraft Sparrow Ultralight. 19 January 2011. Pilot Mix. n.d..

    This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Carlson Sparrow".

    Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.