Flylab Tucano Explained

The Flylab Tucano (English: [[Toucan]]) is an Italian ultralight aircraft, produced by Flylab, of Ischitella. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft. The aircraft was produced in the 1990s by Ferrari ULM of Castelbaldo.[1] [2] [3]

Design and development

The Tucano is a derivative of the Chotia Weedhopper and was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight rules with the design goal of being a low-cost aircraft. It features a strut-braced parasol wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed or open cockpit, fixed tricycle landing gear or floats and a single engine in pusher configuration or on some models twin engines in centreline thrust arrangement.[2]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its flying surfaces covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 10.171NaN1 span wing has an area of 17m2 and is supported by V-struts and jury struts. There is a cabane strut that passes through the windshield and cockpit area. The aircraft is built around a central bent aluminum keel tube that runs from the cockpit to the tail. Controls are standard three-axis type. Standard engines available are the 500NaN0 Rotax 503 and 640NaN0 Rotax 582 two-stroke powerplants. The fuel tank is of plastic construction, mounted under the pusher engine. The Tucano V has a glide ratio of 11:1.[2]

Variants

Tucano
  • Base model with Rotax 582 powerplant.[2] [4]
    Tucano V
  • Improved model, with aerodynamic clean-ups and enclosed cockpit[2] [5]
    Tucano HV
  • A Tucano V mounted on floats (hydro).[6]
    Tucano Delta3
  • Open cockpit model powered by a Rotax 503[7]
    Tucano HD3
  • Float-equipped model based on the Tucano Delta3, powered by a Rotax 503[8]
    Tucano HD3A
  • Amphibious float-equipped model based on the Tucano HD3, powered by a Rotax 503[9]
    Tucano Delta3 TW
  • Twin-engined (TW) version with Rotax 582 engines mounted in the nose and aft of the cockpit, based on the Tucano Delta3[2] [10]
    Tucano Delta3 VTW
  • Twin-engined version with Rotax 582 engines mounted in the nose and aft of the cockpit, with the Tucano V aerodynamic and cockpit refinements[11]
    Tucano X2
  • Twin-engined version with Rotax 582 engines mounted in the nose and aft of the cockpit, produced in the 1990s by Ferrari ULM.

    Notes and References

    1. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 54. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
    2. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 55. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015.
    3. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 158. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998.
    4. Web site: Tucano By Flylab . Flylab.it . 2012-07-05.
    5. Web site: Tucano V By Flylab . Flylab.it . 2012-07-05.
    6. Web site: Tucano HV By Flylab . Flylab.it . 2012-07-05.
    7. Web site: Tucano Delta3 By Flylab . Flylab.it . 2012-07-05.
    8. Web site: Tucano HD3 By Flylab . Flylab.it . 2012-07-05.
    9. Web site: Tucano HD3A By Flylab . Flylab.it . 2012-07-05.
    10. Web site: Tucano Delta3 TW By Flylab . Flylab.it . 2012-07-05.
    11. Web site: Tucano Delta3 VTW By Flylab . Flylab.it . 2012-07-05.

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

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