US Light Aircraft Hornet explained

The US Light Aircraft Hornet is an American two-seats-in-tandem, pusher configuration, tricycle gear, strut-braced high wing ultralight aircraft, that was produced US Light Aircraft Corporation of Ramona, California between 1994 and circa 2008 in kit form for amateur construction. It was also available as a factory-completed light-sport aircraft.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

After US Light Aircraft ceased production the design was taken up by Higher Class Aviation and then later Oklahoma Light Aircraft of Blackwell, Oklahoma, which reportedly had the Hornet in production in 2011.[7] By July 2012 Oklahoma Light Aircraft's website had been removed from the internet and the aircraft was no longer advertised as being for sale.[8]

Design and development

The Hornet was first introduced at Sun 'n Fun in 1994. Externally the aircraft greatly resembles the Quad City Challenger II, but internally the structure is very different. When it was available the Hornet was priced considerably higher than the Challenger II.

The Hornet structure is built up from aluminium tubing, riveted together with gussets. The aircraft is then covered with doped aircraft fabric. The Hornet's wing incorporates dual bridge-section spars, with a single strut and V-jury struts. The wing was sandbag-tested to 7g without failure. The aircraft includes electric flaps and trim, dual controls and two wing-mounted fuel tanks. The landing gear incorporates pneumatic suspension on all three wheels, including the steerable nosewheel, and hydraulic brakes on the mainwheels. The Hornet can also be equipped with floats or skis. Early production aircraft experienced elevator flutter at speeds in excess of 1000NaN0 but this was addressed by mass-balancing the elevator.[9]

Reported construction times from the kit are 250–300 hours.

Operational history

The Hornet won Grand Champion Light Plane at both Sun 'n Fun and AirVenture in 1995.

Variants

Hornet
  • Base model, powered by a 550NaN0 Hirth 2703, or optionally the 650NaN0 Hirth 2706 engine.
    Super Hornet
  • Light sport model, fully assembled and powered by an 800NaN0 Rotax 912UL or optionally the 1000NaN0 Rotax 912ULS engine[10]

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page B-84. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001.
    2. Web site: The Sport Pilot certificate is now a reality. 7 February 2011. US Light Aircraft. March 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080328011836/http://www.flyhornet.com/ . 28 March 2008.
    3. Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 74. Primedia Publications.
    4. Downey, Julia: 2001 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 12, December 2000, page 79. Kitplanes Acquisition Company.
    5. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 278. BAI Communications.
    6. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, pages 22–23. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003.
    7. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 66. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011.
    8. Web site: Sport Hornet website . 5 August 2012 . Higher Class Aviation and Oklahoma Light Aircraft . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070703135539/http://www.sporthornet.com/ . 3 July 2007.
    9. Web site: Airframe. 7 February 2011. US Light Aircraft. March 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20070531194723/http://www.sporthornet.com/specs.htm . 31 May 2007 .
    10. Web site: Super Hornet. 7 February 2011. US Light Aircraft. March 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20070531194723/http://www.sporthornet.com/frame_readybuilt.htm . 31 May 2007 .

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