| Airframes Unlimited | |
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HW100 - 45000
UAW55 - 105000 RRW100 - 175000 PKRR - 7500 |
Airframes Unlimited Airframes Unlimited Industry - Aerospace Founder - Don and Clint Stutts Defunct - late 2014 Fate - Out of business Headquarters - Athens, Texas and Cloudcroft, New Mexico, United States Products - Powered parachutes Owner - Don Stutts Website - www.airframesunlimited.com Airframes Unlimited was an American aircraft manufacturer founded by Don and Clint Stutts of Athens, Texas. The company started out marketing powered parachute plans on CD-ROM and expanded into providing parts and sub-assemblies, as well as complete airframes. In an interview in Light Sport and Ultralight Flying Magazine Don Stutts explained his focus on the low-end of the market, stating, "our company's goal is to make powered parachuting more affordable to the average working man. We are living in an era where $15,000 to $20,000 powered parachutes are common. Powered parachutes in this price range are completely out of reach of an average working man, even with creative financing.". The company originally operated as Powered Parachute Plans, also of Athens, Texas. When parts for complete aircraft were made available these were supplied by Airframes Unlimited and gradually the two enterprises were unified under the latter name. The company seems to have gone out of business in late 2014. Aircraft Summary of aircraft built by Airframes Unlimited Model name - First flight - Number built - Type Airframes Unlimited Hyperlite - - - Powered parachute Airframes Unlimited Skeeter - - - Powered parachute Airframes Unlimited SS-2 Trainer - 2003 - At least 8 - Powered parachute Airframes Unlimited Super 103 - - - Powered parachute Airframes Unlimited T-2 - - - Powered parachute Airframes Unlimited T-103 - - - Powered parachute Airframes Unlimited SS-2 Trainer SS-2 Trainer Role - Powered parachute National origin - United States Manufacturer - Airframes Unlimited Introduction - 2003 Status - Production completed Number built - At least 8 The Airframes Unlimited SS-2 Trainer is an American powered parachute that was designed and produced by Airframes Unlimited of Athens, Texas for the training role. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction. The SS-2 Trainer was introduced in 2003 and production had ended by the time the company went out of business in 2014. Design and development The SS-2 Trainer was designed to comply with the US Experimental - Amateur-built aircraft rules. It features a parachute-style wing, two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration, tricycle landing gear and a single 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine in pusher configuration. The 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 engine was optional, as was a single seat configuration. The aircraft carriage is built from welded 4130 steel tubing. In flight steering is accomplished via foot pedals that actuate the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has lever-controlled nosewheel steering. The main landing gear incorporates spring rod suspension. The aircraft has an empty weight of 375 lb (170 kg) and a gross weight of 827 lb (375 kg), giving a useful load of 452 lb (205 kg). With full fuel of 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal) the payload for crew and baggage is 392 lb (178 kg). Operational history In August 2015 eight examples were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration. Specifications (SS-2 Trainer) (Data from Bertrand) General characteristics Crew: one Capacity: one passenger Empty weight: 375 lb (170 kg) Gross weight: 827 lb (375 kg) Fuel capacity: 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal) Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 582 twin cylinder, two-stroke, liquid-cooled aircraft engine, 64 hp (48 kW) Propellers: 4-bladed ground adjustable, composite Airframes Unlimited T-2 T2 Role - Powered parachute National origin - United States Manufacturer - Airframes Unlimited Status - In production The Airframes Unlimited T-2 is an American powered parachute designed and produced by Airframes Unlimited of Athens, Texas. The aircraft was originally offered as plans only by Powered Parachute Plans, also of Athens, Texas. When parts for complete aircraft were made available these were supplied by Airframes Unlimited and gradually the two enterprises were unified under the latter name. Design and development The aircraft was designed to comply with the US Experimental - Amateur Built rules. It features a parachute-style high-wing, two-seats-in-tandem, tricycle landing gear and accepts a wide variety of two stroke and four stroke engines mounted in pusher configuration. The aircraft is built from welded 4130 steel tubing, with a 6061-T6 aluminum engine mount plate. In flight steering is accomplished via levers that actuate the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has lever-controlled nosewheel steering. The main landing gear incorporates spring rod suspension. The design uses an overhead adjustable canopy hang point, called a "cg spreader bar" to establish the correct canopy attachment point and hence the aircraft's flight attitude and torque offset. The aircraft was originally supplied only in the form of illustrated plans provided on a CD-ROM in Microsoft Word .doc format. Later parts and sub-assemblies were made available and then complete carriages, less canopy, propeller and engine. Airframes Unlimited T-103 T103 Role - Powered parachute National origin - United States Manufacturer - Airframes Unlimited Status - In production The Airframes Unlimited T-103 is an American powered parachute designed and produced by Airframes Unlimited of Athens, Texas. The aircraft was originally offered as plans only by Powered Parachute Plans, also of Athens, Texas. When parts for complete aircraft were made available these were supplied by Airframes Unlimited and gradually the two enterprises were unified under the latter name. Design and development The aircraft was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The manufacturer says "The T-103 can be built to be part 103 compliant without any trouble." It features a parachute-style high-wing, two-seats-in-tandem, tricycle landing gear and accepts a wide variety of two stroke and four stroke engines mounted in pusher configuration. The aircraft is built from welded 4130 steel tubing, with a 6061-T6 aluminum engine mount plate. In flight steering is accomplished via levers that actuate the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has lever-controlled nosewheel steering. The main landing gear incorporates spring rod suspension. The design uses an overhead adjustable canopy hang point, called a "cg spreader bar" to establish the correct canopy attachment point and hence the aircraft's flight attitude and torque offset. The aircraft was originally supplied only in the form of illustrated plans provided on a CD-ROM in Microsoft Word .doc format. Later parts and sub-assemblies were made available and then complete carriages, less canopy, propeller and engine. |