The SIPA S.90 was designed by Yves Gardan for the Société Industrielle Pour l’Aéronautique (SIPA). The prototype first flew on 15 May 1947, winning a French government competition for a new light two-seat aircraft for operation by the French aero clubs.

The initial production S.90 was a low-wing aircraft with fixed tailwheel undercarriage and side-by-side seating for two. It was powered by a 75 hp (56 kW) Mathis G4F engine. Four examples were built.

100 aircraft were ordered by the French government, on behalf of the aeroclubs, and these were powered by the 75 hp (56 kW) Minie 4DC engine as the SIPA S.901. The first made its initial flight on 25 June 1948. Deliveries were completed in the early 1950s. Various engines were later installed in the S.901, giving rise to new model numbers.

In later years, the S.90 series readily found buyers in the secondhand market and examples have flown with private owners in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Nine further aircraft were built later with plywood covering in lieu of fabric, receiving new designations. In 2001, 15 examples remained airworthy in France, Switzerland and the UK.

Total production of all models was 113 aircraft.

Variants

S.90
4 aircraft with 75 hp (56 kW) Mathis G4F engine
S.901
100 aircraft with 75 hp (56 kW) Minié 4.DC.32 engine. Most were re-engined as follows.
S.902
S.901 with 85 hp (63 kW) Continental C85-12F engine. (Specifications below).
S.903
S.901 with 90 hp (67 kW) Continental C90-14F engine
S.904
S.901 with 75 hp (56 kW) Salmson 5AQ-01 engine
S.91
2 new aircraft as S.902 but with plywood-covered fuselage and wings
S.92
1 new aircraft as S.91 with 85 hp (63 kW) Mathis 4GB-62 engine
S.93
1 new aircraft as S.91 with 75 hp (56 kW) Salmson 5AQ-01 engine
S.94
5 new aircraft as S.91 with 90 hp (67 kW) Continental C90-8F engine

The Skyeton Swift is a conventionally laid out single-engine, high-wing light aircraft with side-by-side seating for two. The wings have constant chord, each braced with a single lift strut to the lower fuselage longeron. They use a single metal spar and have stressed skin metal upper surfaces and leading edges, combined with fabric covered lower surfaces aft of the spar. Fabric covered ailerons and inboard slotted flaps together occupy the whole of the wing trailing edges. The wings carry 2.17° dihedral.

The Swift's fuselage is built around four welded steel longerons and skinned with composite materials. Behind the cabin the fuselage diameter decreases markedly to the tail. The fin leading edge and the rudder hinge are both strongly swept but the trailing edge of the rudder, which carries an electrically operated trim tab, is only slightly swept. The tailplane and single piece elevator, also tabbed, are set well back, with the tailplane leading edge behind the rudder hinge. A small triangular underfin provides more vertical stabilizer area. A fixed tricycle undercarriage is mounted on the lower fuselage with cantilever legs. The wheels are spatted and the nosewheel steerable.

The Swift can be fitted with one of two Rotax 912 flat-four engines: the 59 kW (79 hp) 912UL or the 74 kW (99 hp) 912ULS. Both engines drive three-bladed propellers.

Eight Swifts are on the Ukrainian civil register, one on the Russia and six more on the French register. One Swift has been manufactured in the US by SkyetonAmerica of Bettendorf, Iowa.

The Skyfox CA25N Gazelle is derived from the tailwheel CA25 Skyfox. The full history of the design and development can be found here. The N in the model number denotes the nosewheel model.

The airframe is built from 4130 chrome molyb-denum steel, with the wings built up on tubular spars with an internal web, along with metal drag and anti drag braces. Plywood ribs are epoxy bonded to the spars. They are then covered with Stits polyfibre and Dulux paint. Power is from a Rotax 912, which gives the aircraft the flatter engine cowling — the easiest way to differentiate this machine from the radial type cowl of the US Kitfox.

Production ceased in late 1999 after about 106 tail-draggers and 83 nose-wheeled machines had been constructed.

The Skyote Aeromarine Skyote (sometimes written "Skyotë", and pronounced either "Sky-oh-tee" or "Sky-yoat") is a single-engine, single-seat sport biplane designed in the 1970s in the United States and marketed as plans and kits for homebuilding.

The 'Skyote' is a conventional open-cockpit biplane design, with fixed, tailwheel undercarriage. The wings are slightly swept for center-of-gravity and lateral stability reasons and to improve performance in snap rolls. The equal-span, staggered wings are braced together with conventional struts and wires that form a single bay. Neither the upper nor lower wings have any dihedral, and ailerons are fitted to all four wings. The fuselage is built from welded steel tubing with wooden stringers and formers to give it shape, the wing structure is aluminum, and the entire aircraft is covered in fabric.

The Skyote was designed by O. E. "Pete" Bartoe, a biplane enthusiast who owned and flew a de Havilland Tiger Moth but had become attracted to more aerobatic types that he had flown at airshows, including the Rose Parakeet and Bücker Jungmeister. In the early 1970s, Bartoe operated the Ball-Bartoe Aircraft Corporation in Boulder, Colorado. When he remarked to the two mechanics who worked with him that he would like to see an aircraft that combined the best characteristics of the Parakeet and the Jungmann, they replied, "You design it and we'll build it on weekends."

For more history of the development of the Skyote, click here.

The SkyReach BushCat is a South African light-sport aircraft developed from the Rainbow Aircraft Cheetah by Vladimir Chechin of SkyReach Aircraft. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

The BushCat is a two-place side-by-side configuration, strut-braced, high-wing monoplane. The main upgrades from the earlier Cheetah XLS are the use of sprung aluminum landing gear, cockpit ergonomic changes to the location of the stick and throttle and hydraulic disc brakes in place of mechanical drum brakes.

The BushCat's structure is fabric-covered aluminum tube construction. The standard engines used are the 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912UL and the 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS powerplants. The plane features dual throttles, a single center-mounted control stick and flaps controlled by a ceiling-mounted bar. Landing gear options are tricycle gear, conventional landing gear and floats.

The design is a US Federal Aviation Administration accepted special light-sport aircraft with the Rotax 912UL, Rotax 912ULS, the 85 hp (63 kW) Jabiru 2200 and 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engines fitted.

In April 2018 there were 26 BushCats registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.

Designed by Chuck Hamilton, the series were originally produced by Innovation Engineering of Davenport, Iowa and more recently by SlipStream International of Wautoma, Wisconsin.

Developed in 1991 for the homebuilt aircraft market, the Genesis is built from aluminium tubing, riveted together using stainless steel gussets for support. The tail surfaces are suspended from a distinctive series of four tubes that curve to allow clearance for the pusher propeller. The wings and tail surfaces are covered with doped aircraft fabric or optionally with pre-sewn Dacron sailcloth envelopes.

The series is unusual in having control yokes in place of the more common control sticks used on this class of aircraft.

The Genesis can be fitted with floats or skis. Options include larger fuel capacity, electrically-operated flaperons and trim, wheel pants and ballistic parachute.

For details of the seven variants, click here.

By 2014, 500 customer built aircraft had been completed. The Sonex can also be built from plans.

Company founder, John Monnett was approached by an Italian business looking for an aircraft that would meet their Microlight category. A variation of Sonerai was initially proposed to meet the 40 mph minimum flight speed requirement. Eventually a clean-sheet design was built around a Jabiru or VW engine installation with similar all-aluminum box fuselage construction as the Monnett Moni. The Sonex can accept various lightweight – less than 200 lb (91 kg) – engines of between 80 to 130 hp (60 to 97 kW).

The Sonex, Waiex (pronounced Y-X) and Xenos all qualify as American experimental light-sport aircraft (ELSA).

The Sonex plans contain several construction options, including conventional or tricycle landing gear, as well as a center or dual stick. Motor mount drawings are supplied for all three recommended powerplants: the 2180cc Volkswagen, 2200 Jabiru, and 3300 Jabiru. High performance is achieved through a clean aerodynamic shape and simple, light weight construction.

The Sonex can be built from scratch using factory supplied drawings or may be assembled in approximately 800 to 1,000 hours using the precut complete airframe kit. A complete kit based Sonex can be constructed for as little as USD$25,600.

For details of the eight variants, click here.

Sonex tail wheel and tricycle

Sonex Waiex

Sonex Onex

SubSonex

Sonex Xenos

Specifications below are for the Sonex.

The Spacek SD-1 Minisport is a Czech amateur-built aircraft, designed by Igor Špaček and produced by Spacek sro of Hodonin.

The aircraft was also produced for a short time in the United States by SkyCraft Airplanes of Orem, Utah as a light-sport aircraft, but they had gone out of businesses by 2017. The aircraft is supplied in the form of plans, as a kit for amateur construction, or as a ready-to-fly aircraft.

The aircraft features a cantilever low-wing, a single-seat enclosed cockpit, fixed conventional landing gear or optionally tricycle landing gear, a T-tail and a single engine in tractor configuration. Due to its very light weight it can qualify for the German 120 kg category. It complies with the United Kingdom SSDR rules for single seat deregulated microlight aeroplanes.

The aircraft is made from wood, with judicious use of composites, including for the wing spar. Its 6 m (19.7 ft) span wing employs an A315 airfoil, has an area of 6 m2 (65 sq ft) and utilizes flaperons. Engines of 24 to 50 hp (18 to 37 kW) can be used. 

By November 2015 113 had been sold worldwide and about 41 were flying.

At the end of May 2014 SkyCraft Airplanes announced that light-sport flight testing on its version had been completed. Their model has a revised cockpit, including Dynon SkyView instrumentation, a hydraulic brake system and the 50 hp (37 kW) Hirth F-23 two-stroke fuel-injected engine.

Variants

SD-1 TD
Conventional landing gear (taildragger) version
SD-1 TG
Tricycle gear version
SD-1 TD XL
Conventional landing gear (taildragger) version for taller pilots
SD-1 TG XL
Tricycle gear version for taller pilots
SD-2 SportMaster
2-seat tricycle gear version

In 1986 Jesse Anglin of Hendersonville, North Carolina, USA, designed the single-seat Spacewalker that reproduced the classic configuration (low-wing, open-cockpit tail dragger) of the Ryan monoplanes of the late 1930s but constructed of modern materials and powered by modern engines. The aircraft had fabric covered wooden wings and a welded chrome-molybdenum steel tube fuselage and wire braced tail unit, also fabric covered. Powered by a 65 hp Continential flat-four engine the aircraft first flew in 1986, registered N107JA (c/n 107) .

In 1990 Anglin designed the tandem two-seat Spacewalker II, using similar methods of construction. The prototype was manufactured by Maxey Hester of Montezuma, Iowa. Powered by a 65 hp Teledyne Continental engine, the prototype was first flown in 1990, registered N516HM.

More recently a real 'retro' version was developed by Martin Hone of Australia, when he flew his Spacewalker II-RR for the first time in 2009, fitted with a Rotec 3600 radial engine.

Beaver ultralights have evolved as designs over time, have been produced by several companies and remain in production in the 21st century.

The first model Beaver was the RX-28, a simple lightweight single-seat aircraft that was intended to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles category, including the category's maximum 254 lb (115 kg) empty weight. The model designation indicated that it was Rotax-28 hp as it was powered by the 28 hp (21 kW) Rotax 277 single-cylinder, two-stroke powerplant. With this engine the RX-28 had an empty weight of 232 lb (105 kg).

The availability of the 35 hp (26 kW) Rotax 377 engine lead to a higher-powered version of the RX-28, which was designated the RX-35. This Beaver model was fitted with floats and continued in production by Spectrum Aircraft until they ceased business in 1992.

Building on the success of the single-seat Beaver models, Spectrum Aircraft introduced the two-place Beaver RX 550 in 1986 and it quickly became the most popular ultralight trainer in Canada. The combination of its predictable and docile handling, along with the reliable Rotax 503 50 hp (37 kW) engine, ensured its success.

From the Spectrum Aeronautics website:

Since its first flight in 1983 the Beaver has proven so far very popular in service, both with flight schools and private owners for its ruggedness and easy-to-handle characteristics.

Although being through many manufacturers and out of production , the aircraft has enjoyed an illustrious history that proudly owns an excellent world-wide reputation for safety and good longevity.

However, the Beaver owners and enthusiasts don’t have to wait for long because this Canadian iconic ultralight aircraft will be back in production in 2020 with two variants as Beaver RX 550, and Beaver RX SS.

For more details of the development, design operational history and seven variants, click here.

Specifications below are for the single seat RX SS model.

RX SS Single seat

RX550 two seater

The Spezio Sport DAL 1 Tuholer is a two-place low-wing homebuilt aircraft using tube-and-fabric construction. A folding wing is incorporated to allow for trailering.

The prototype aircraft was built for $287 using tubing from a Cessna UC 78, a Tri-Pacer propeller, wheels from a TG-6 glider, a Lycoming Ground Power unit and a variety of surplus materials. The nickname came from the president of the Experimental Aircraft Association remarking that the plane was a "tuholer".

The Tuholer is a tandem two-seat, strut-braced, low-wing, open cockpit aircraft with conventional landing gear. The dual control aircraft can be flown solo rear cockpit only. The fuselage is welded steel tubing with wooden stringers and fabric covering. The dual wing spars are wood, with wood ribs and fabric covering. The fuel tank is made of fiberglass. The horizontal stabilizer uses a Piper Cub style screw jack for trim. The rear headrest can be built streamlined flush with the vertical stabilizer or tapered.

The Spezio Sport DAL 1 Tuholer is a two-place low-wing homebuilt aircraft using tube-and-fabric construction. A folding wing is incorporated to allow for trailering.

The prototype aircraft was built for $287 using tubing from a Cessna UC 78, a Tri-Pacer propeller, wheels from a TG-6 glider, a Lycoming Ground Power unit and a variety of surplus materials. The nickname came from the president of the Experimental Aircraft Association remarking that the plane was a "two holer".

The Tuholer is a tandem two-seat, strut-braced, low-wing, open cockpit aircraft with conventional landing gear. The dual control aircraft can be flown solo from the rear cockpit only. The fuselage is welded steel tubing with wooden stringers and fabric covering. The dual wing spars are wood, with wood ribs and fabric covering. The fuel tank is made of fiberglass. The horizontal stabilizer uses a Piper Cub style screw jack for trim. The rear headrest can be built streamlined flush with the vertical stabilizer or tapered.

The designer flew the prototype 16 years.

The Sport Hornet LRS is a Light Sport Aircraft. One unique attribute that sets the Sport Hornet LRS apart from other LSA Aircraft is the air spring suspension system on the landing gear. This protects the aircraft from damage in the event of "miscalculated" landings and allows for a better experience for the pilot and passengers.

The company and website appear to be defunct.

The Flitzer Z-21 or Staaken Flitzer is a British amateur-built aircraft, designed by Lynn Williams and produced by Flitzer Sportplanes of Aberdare, Wales. The aircraft is supplied as plans for amateur construction.

In the late 1990s it was also marketed as plans and in kit form by Bell Aeromarine of Leicester, UK.

The Z-21 is a single-seat, open cockpit 1920s-style biplane with fixed conventional landing gear with spoked wheels and a single engine in tractor configuration.

The aircraft is made from wood, with its flying surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric. Its 5.5 m (18.0 ft) span wing has a combined area of 9 m2 (97 sq ft) and ailerons on the bottom wing only. The aircraft was designed for the 65 hp (48 kW) Volkswagen air-cooled engine, but other variants have been developed that use a variety of engines, including the 110 hp (82 kW) Rotec R2800 radial engine.

Further planned developments include a tandem two seater, a four aileron version and a lighter weight version.

In August 2014 there were eleven Flitzers registered in the United Kingdom.

The Stewart Headwind JD1HW1.7 and SAC-1VW is a single-seat high-wing tube-and-fabric construction homebuilt aircraft.

The first Headwind was flown on March 28, 1962. It was one of the first aircraft to fly in the United States using a VW engine. The prototype flew with a Huggins VW conversion. To use a standard propeller, a patented PRSU (propeller speed reducing unit) was developed to keep the engine RPM high and propeller RPM at its optimum speed. 

The design was inspired by the Demoiselle by Alberto Santos-Dumont. The fuselage is triangular sections of welded tube steel covered in fabric.

Variants

A Volkswagen air-cooled engine was the only engine specified for this model, however many examples exist with alternate engine installations.

The Flut-R-Bug can be built as a single place or tandem seat aircraft. It was an early complete-kit aircraft, sold with a pre-welded fuselage. Stits planned to deliver 100 kits to the German market for homebuilding. Examples have been completed in the United States and in Europe.

The SA-5 is a mid-wing, tricycle landing gear design with folding wings. The aircraft was intended to be towed by a vehicle by the (lowered) tail on its main gear with wings folded along its sides. The cockpit can be open, or covered with a bubble canopy. The fuselage is constructed from welded steel tubing with aircraft fabric covering. The wings use spruce wooden spars with fabric covering.

Variants

SA-5A Single place variant

SA-6A Two seat tandem variant with a 1,015 lb (460 kg) gross weight

SA-6B Two seat variant with wider span wings and larger tail surface

Storm Aircraft was originally called SG Aviation srl. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The original model Storm 300 features a cantilever low-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed conventional landing gear or optionally tricycle landing gear, both with wheel pants, and a single engine in tractor configuration.

The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied kit as 500 hours or 350 hours from the quick-build kit.

The Storm 300 was later developed into the Storm Century and then the retractable gear Storm RG.

The Storm Rally LSA is a high-wing, composite LSA, manufactured in Italy by Storm Aircraft. The aircraft is a two-seater, with flight controls for both seats.

The main gear is spring steel. Wheel pants are removable. It sports a 3-bladed, ground adjustable prop. Elevator has a large trim plane on the right elevator. Access to the Rotax 912 UL-S is excellent with both left and right access panels. It takes a coin or screw driver to release the dzus screws. The gel-coat finish looks like it will withstand the elements well.

Fuel tanks are integrated into the composite wings and require a ladder to access the fillers. Aside from the electric fuel indicator gauges, there is no visual fuel level indicator inside the cockpit. Doors are large with two-point latches and open in a “gull-wing” fashion supported by gas struts. The plane can be flown up to 60 kts with the doors open. 

For more of this Light Sport America pilot report, click here.

It is fitted with retracting conventional landing gear. The manufacturer is Svenska Flygfabriken AB, based in Sundsvall, Sweden. Work started on building the prototype in 2003, and the maiden flight was made on 5 February 2008 at Midlanda Airport. Take-offs and landings on land, ice and water have all been tested during the test program.

The designer of this aircraft is Lage Norberg, who has been working on the design since the early 1980s. It is intended to match the regulatory standards for amphibian homebuilt aircraft in the Ultralight, Microlight and Light Sport Aircraft Categories, as well as the FAR 23 Aerobatic category.

The Swiss Excellence Risen is a Swiss two-seat in side-by-side configuration, low wing ultralight aircraft, designed by Italian-Argentine aeronautical engineer Alberto Porto and produced by Swiss Excellence Airplanes. The aircraft was introduced at the 2015 AERO Friedrichshafen show. It is supplied ready-to-fly.

The prototype was completed in 2012 and tested over the next three years before being publicly shown in 2015. The design entered production in mid-2015.

The aircraft has a glass cockpit, motorized canopy, autopilot, retractable landing gear and a ballistic parachute. The main structure is made from carbon fibre. Available engines are 75 kW (100 hp) Rotax 912 ULS and Rotax 912 iS and the 86 kW (115 hp) Rotax 914 turbocharged powerplant.

In 2020 the aircraft's gross weight was increased from 472.5 to 600 kg (1,041.7 to 1,322.8 lb).

In 2016 the design set an FAI Class R (Microlights and paramotors) world speed record for absolute speed of 323.82 km/h (201 mph) with a standard Rotax 912 engine. For this record the pilot Alberto Porto, who is also the CEO of Swiss Excellence Airplanes, received an Oscar from VFR Magazine and the De la Vaulx Medal by the FAI.

The FAI records table lists the Risen as having flown at the speed of 428.18 km/h (266 mph) over a straight course on Jan 22, 2023.

Variants
Swiss Excellence Risen
Model with retractable landing gear
Swiss Excellence Siren
Model with fixed landing gear and revised cockpit arrangement.

The Pegazair-100 STOL is a two-seat STOL homebuilt aircraft developed in Canada by Tapanee Aviation, Inc. of Mont-Saint-Michel, Quebec.

Development of the Pegazair started in 1985 by Serg Dufour of Mont-Saint-Michel, Quebec. Originally it consisted of a new set of Pega-STOL wings with retractable leading edge slats to be installed on Zenair CH 701 STOLs to replace their wings which have fixed leading edge slots. Dufour went on to develop a new fuselage and tail to match the wings. The Pegazair is a two seats in side-by-side configuration, strut-braced, high-wing monoplane with conventional landing gear. Fuselage construction is welded steel tubing with aluminum skin. The wings employ full length flaperons and leading edge slats that deploy automatically. The tailplane is slotted for slow speed authority. The prototype was outfitted with a 65 hp (48 kW) Continental A-65 engine.

The design was later developed into the four-seat Tapanee Levitation 4.

Variants

Pegazair P80
Powered by an 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912UL
Pegazair P100
Powered by an 80 hp (60 kW) Continental O-200 or 115 hp (86 kW) Rotax 914

Development of the Pegazair started in 1985 by Serg Dufour of Mont-Saint-Michel, Quebec. Originally it consisted of a new set of Pega-STOL wings with retractable leading edge slats to be installed on Zenair CH 701 STOLs to replace their wings which have fixed leading edge slots. Dufour went on to develop a new fuselage and tail to match the wings. The Pegazair is a two seats in side-by-side configuration, strut-braced, high-wing monoplane with conventional landing gear. Fuselage construction is welded steel tubing with aluminum skin. The wings employ full length flaperons and leading edge slats that deploy automatically. The tailplane is slotted for slow speed authority. The prototype was outfitted with a 65 hp (48 kW) Continental A-65 engine.

The design was later developed into the four-seat Tapanee Levitation 4.

VARIANTS.

Pegazair P80
     Powered by an 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912UL
Pegazair P100
     Powered by an 80 hp (60 kW) Continental O-200 or 115 hp (86 kW) Rotax 914

The J.T.1 Monoplane was designed by John Taylor in 1956 and the prototype (registered G-APRT) was built by him at Ilford, Essex between 1958-1959. It flew for the first time on 4 July 1959 at White Waltham. At that time it represented the first post war homebuilt design to come from England.

It was designed to be constructed in small spaces with the minimum of tools and material cost, requiring only average building skills from the constructor. It is aimed exclusively at the lower power range such as the 40 hp (30 kW) Volkswagen air-cooled engine, therefore giving economy with an acceptable cruise speed. It is semi- aerobatic.

The airframe of the J.T.1 Monoplane was proof loaded to verify the stress calculations and no modification has ever been introduced since the prototype was approved. The total number flying to date is over 110 examples.

The Taylor Titch is a British fixed-wing homebuilt aircraft, developed in the 1960s by J.F. Taylor. As of 2015, examples are still being built and flown.

Taylor designed the Titch as an entry in the 1964 Midget Racer Design Competition promoted by Rollason. Among the criteria requested was that it had to be a single-seater powered by a Rollason Ardem flat-four engine, design limits were ±6g, maximum wing area of 65 sq ft and a maximum weight of 750lbs. As a result of Taylor designed a high performance single-seater, the Titch based on his earlier Taylor Monoplane.

At the closing date of the competition 42 designs had been submitted which was won by a project named Beta but the Titch was placed second.

Taylor built the prototype, registered G-ATYO, at Leigh-on-Sea, Essex between 1965 and 1966. The Titch first flew at Southend Airport on 4 January 1967.

The designer John Taylor was killed when the prototype Titch crashed at Southend on 16 May 1967. The marketing of plans for both his aircraft designs were taken on by his wife and later his son.

As of 2011, 40 examples had been completed and flown.

The Titch is a single-seat low-wing cantilever monoplane of all wood construction similar to the Monoplane but has fewer metal fittings than the earlier design and full size wing rib plans are supplied for the tapered wing panels. With a cruise speed in the region of 160 mph (260 km/h), it is an effective cross-country touring aircraft and is also fully aerobatic. Builders can fit it with either a Continental or a Lycoming engine.