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Firefly

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pj.ladd(at)btinternet.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 3:43 am Post subject: Firefly

I have mentioned before that totally against the general flow of increasing legislation the CAA (FAA) had done a U turn and now allows a deregulated class of ultralight in the UK  which the pilot can experiment with to his hearts content.



The spec for the new class is a single seat,  empty weight  less than 115kgs, stall at less than 35 knots and you have to have  one square metre of wing for  every10kg of empty weight. You need a current pilots licence and a noise certificate. The Firefly is the only 3 axix machine on the UK market which complies at present.

The regs were modelled on the USA  but instead of the 25 mph stall speed and 62 mph max straight and level the CAA have used the above ruling so that it becomes self regulating.Top speed is unregulated so airofoil section struts can be used instead of the speed limiting round struts of the USA model.

The wing size of the Firefly under this ruling limits the weight to 106kg empty . This means that the favoured 447 engine is heavy so it has been replaced by the single cylinder 28hp.  Hirth F33A which brings the weight to 103 kg. Belt reduction drive to a 1.68 metre diameter 2 blade GSC adjustable prop.. Complete set up is 13.7 kg instead of the 447`s 37kg.

Flight test figures max speed around 70 mph at 6210 rpm and cruise at 60 mph at 5650 rpm. Max climb 500ft per min. take off run to clear a 15m obstacle  60metre on grass.

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jbhart(at)onlyinternet.ne
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Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 4:17 am Post subject: Firefly

 	  Quote: 	
		  From: "pj.ladd" <pj.ladd(at)btinternet.com>

Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:42:49 -0000
	


...........................  

The PFA is running a design competition  for this class which has aroused 

quite a bit of interest and several entries so it seems that the Firefly 

will not have the field to itself for long. 

 	  Quote: 	
		  ..................................


	


Pat,



This is great news.  Has the PFA limited the fuel capacity?



Jack B. Hart FF004

Winchester, IN

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pj.ladd(at)btinternet.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 3:05 am Post subject: Firefly

Has the PFA limited the fuel capacity?>>



Hi Jack,



as I understand it you can do what you like within the 115kg empty weight 

and the 10kg per square metre wing loading.



The design competition has thrown up some interesting stuff. There are 2 

classes.. The Simple Class.In this the plane must be simple and easy to 

build at home, low cost. Submissions must include 3 view. Projected weight 

and balance, expected performance and a report describing the airframe, 

engine and control system.

The SOTA Class (state of the art) No restriction on technology. No 

restriction on cost. Must address high performance and high effeciency 

issues. Submissions to include full weight breakdown of components and a 

full report to justify the projected performance.



The winning entry in the SOTA Class called the E-Plane is a smooth canard 

design.Projected figures

113 kts max. 1100ft/min climb

Engine is the Hirth 29.5 hp F33. Gives 80 mpg at 104knots cruise. 22 litre 

tank gives 424 nautical miles range

Wont stall or spin

Exceptional vfield of view

No flaps

Adjust. rudder pedals

Uses unleaded fuel

Panel

EFIS, hGrand Rapids horizon, on screen check lists,back up altim. and ASI

Tranceiver and transponder

Projected empty weight 106Kg. MAUW 210 kg

Accomodates pilot from 55 to 99 Kg

The canard area can be included in the wing loading calculation

The 2 designers are aeronautical engineers. One ex Marshall Aerospace and 

one ex- Hawker Siddeley and British Aerospace

Details of the Simple Class winner will be in the next issue of our main mag 

`Microlight Flight`.  I will put something on the list if anyone is 

interested



Sounds exciting doesn`t it but there is a very large gap between a drawing 

and a marketable bit of hardware.

Cheers



Pat

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jim

Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 107
Location: N. Idaho

Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 7:59 am Post subject: Firefly

I think I would increase the wing area so I could use a stock 447, 3-blade

prop, brakes, and any other accessories you wanted.  Bigger flaps might be

an easy way to do it.  If that was insufficient I'd extend the wing span.

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_________________
Jim
N. Idaho

pj.ladd(at)btinternet.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 3:40 am Post subject: Firefly

I think I would increase the wing area so I could use a stock 447, 3-blade

prop, brakes, and any other accessories you wanted.  Bigger flaps might be

an easy way to do it.  If that was insufficient I'd extend the wing span.>>



Hi Jim,

you don`t quote which post you are replying to but if it was my post about 

UK new sub 115kg class you could do all of those things. But watch the total 

empty weight.  That is what makes the whole thing self regulating. You put 

in a bigger engine, you need a bigger wing. The bigger wing weighs more. You 

want the extra weight of flaps then it has to be saved somewhere else. 

Bigger tanks...ditto.



Cheers



Pat.

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