Eastern Ultralights Snoop Explained

The Eastern Ultralights Snoop is a family of American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Bob Able and produced by Eastern Ultralights, starting in 1981. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1] [2]

Design and development

The Snoop is characterized as a "Ripsilver" or unauthorized Eipper Quicksilver derivative. The aircraft was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 2540NaN0. The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 2380NaN0. It features a cable-braced high wing, a single-seat open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with the flying surfaces covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its wing is cable-braced from an inverted "V" kingpost. The pilot is accommodated on an open seat and is provided with conventional three-axis flight controls. The landing gear includes suspension on all three wheels, but no nosewheel steering. The Cuyuna UL II engine is mounted on the wing leading edge and drives the pusher propeller which is located aft of the wing's trailing edge though an extension shaft. This arrangement allows the aircraft to remain sitting on its nosewheel while unoccupied, unlike most ultralight pusher aircraft.

Variants

Snoop I
  • Single-seat model with spoilers used for roll control, a 331NaN1 span wing and no flaps.
    Snoop +
  • Single-seat model with ailerons used for roll control, a shorter wing and flaps.
    Snoop II
  • Two-seat trainer model.

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page E-36. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001.
    2. Web site: Snoop I. 15 December 2011. Virtual Ultralight Museum. n.d..