This year he purchased the back and designed a
set of wings for it to fit it into the ultralight category.The Zipster will initially be offered as plans,
with a builders manual and suppliers list. In the future Ed is looking to
supply various components right up to ready to fly aircraft.
The Zipster uses a 4130 chromoly steel welded fuselage, mated to a set
of tubular spar, rivet and gusset together wings, similar to what has been
used for the past 20 years in the Skylite, Mong Sport and Zippy Sport. The
wing ribs are held in place by Raceair's specially designed "widgets."
The wing ribs template is full size, and the plans are scaled at 1 inch
equally a 12 inches. The first time builder will take over 1,000 hours to
build the Zipster from plans while more experience builders should
complete it in 700 hours.
The Zipster weighs in at 249 lbs with a 277 Rotax engine, cruises along
at 55 mph, stalls at 27 mph, take off roll for Ed at just over 200 lbs is
600 feet with lighter pilots getting of in just over 400 feet.
For those wanting a little more performance, and NOT looking for a
legal U.S. part 103 ultralight, the Zipster can also be fitted with the
Rotax 503, 1/3 Corvair and VW engines. It will also accept the single
cylinder Hirth but requires that the engine be moved forward in the mount
for proper C of G. For more information contact:
Raceair Designs
4387 Sunnybrook Dr.
Warrent Ohio 44484
330-856-7520 |
