Sportlite 103 ultralight

[Kim Brown]

I have decided to not go ahead with the Sportlite 103 project, need to finish all the odds and ends on a Mini max i recently completed, and then spend some time either enjoying it or getting it marketable. probably that is a wiser plan for someone who is 73 years old. Complete plans package for the Sportlite 103 that i bought for $225 are now available for $100 plus buyer pays shipping. Let me know if interested, thank you
Kim Brown

 

[Kim Brown]

i have decided not to go ahead with the build of the Freebird Aviation Sportlite 103 at this time, I probably am best served by fully wringing out my newly completed Mini Max and seeing how much fun I can have with it, rather than trying to do that, build a new one, work full time, all at age 73, so I am offering the full package here for $99, I paid $225, buyer to be responsible for shipping($25-50)thanks,I found the package to be excellent overall and I have had a dozen or so sets of plans for comparison. Kim Brown

 

[Kim Brown]

From what little I have managed to pick up about the Ultrastar, it seems to me one area of consideration has to be engine selection due to the way it is placed in the a/c. Is the engine choice quite limited? What might the proven choices be? Are the choices ones that are actually findable in today's world? Has anyone tried something like a v-twin four cycle or is engine placement and weight prohibitive for such considerations? Thank you.
Kim Brown

 

[vers]

Ultralight News says:

Sportlite 103 Ultralight
The Lite Sport Classic features standard three-axis control, side by side seating using a center-mounted stick and dual throttles and rudder pedals, with a steerable nosewheel. The Lite Sport Ultra again features standard three-axis controls. It is available in a single place version, or a longer fuselage version two place. As a single place powered by the Rotax 447UL (40hp) the Lite Sport Ultra is a Legal Part 103 ultralight aircraft. The kit is available as a raw materials kit in which you do all the cutting, drilling and bending yourself, or as a quick build kit where you bolt the craft together and install your sail covering.	​
The factory reports that approximately 300 aircraft are currently flying. Free Bird Innovations, Inc. PO Box 904 1380 Legion Road Detroit Lakes, MN 56502Phone: 1-800-850-3708 or 218-844-5914

I don't see any other Spec's for the Part 103 version other than what's mentioned above.

For the Light Sport version they say these Spec's.

LiteSport Classic Specifications:
• Gross Weight: 900 lbs
• Empty Weight: 450 lbs
• Useful Load: 450 lbs
• Wingspan: 26 ft
• Wing Area: 121 sq ft
• Length: 17 ft
• Height: 6 ft 2\8 in
• Fuel Capacity: 10 gallons
• Build Time: 125 hours

Performance:
The Engine used for Tests: Rotax 582UL.
• Power: 65 hp
• Cruise: 80 mph
• Stall Speed: 32 mph
• VNE Speed: 110 mph
• Rate of Climb: 800 fpm
• Takeoff Distance: 125 ft
• Top Speed: 90 mph

I found these Spec's for the Part 103 version, but a little confusing, Why they don't just make separate Columns.

​

Sportlite 103 Specifications Performance​
Empty Weight	250 lbs
Gross Weight:	530 lbs (single seat)
Gross Weight:	900 lbs (two seat)
Wingspan:	26 ft 6 in
Wing Area:	127 sq ft
Length:	16 ft 7 in
Height:	6 ft 8 in
Fuel Capacity:	5 gallons
Build Time (kit);	125 hours
Build Time (plans):	250 hours
Rotax 447:	40 hp
Cruise:	55 mph
Top Speed;	62 mph
Stall Speed:	22 mph
VNE Speed:	75 mph
Rate of Climb;	850 fpm
Takeoff Distance:	75 ft

When this plane came out in 2006, the 277UL (28hp) & 377UL (35hp) had already been Discontinued, and the 447UL (40hp) was Discontinued shortly after that. So was the 503UL (50hp).

So if it will make Part 103 Weight of 254 lbs with a Rotax 447UL, it will make Weight with a Rotax 377UL, & 277UL, a Kawasaki 340/440, a Hirth F23, F33, F36, the MZ34, and a Simonini Mini 3, and the Polini 250 DS. Avg Pilot Weight falls between 180-235 lbs. If Plane is 250 lbs + 30 lbs (GAS) + 235 lb (Pilot) = 515 lbs.

515 lbs = 233.6001 kg / 10 kg = 23.36001 kw needed = 31.32629 hp needed.

Will it Fly at Full at that MTOW of 515 lbs on 26hp, 28hp, Yes! But Performance will suffer. Part 103 is not about Performance as much as about Flight Time with only 5 Gallons!

530 lbs = 240.404 kg / 10 kg = 24.0404 kw needed = 32.23871 hp needed.

900 lbs = 408.2331 kg / 10 kg = 40.82331 kw needed = 54.74496 hp needed!

A 377UL built to the 380HO Spec's can make [email protected]! It Dynoed [email protected] with an aftermarket Tuned Pipe! A 447UL is a 377UL 62mm Cylinder Big Bored to 67.5mm. You can actually go up to a 503UL 72mm Bore with a Custom made Sleeve.

With a Good Wide Band Tuned Pipe Designed for 6500rpm, Proper Carb and using 11.5cr:

Rotax:
277UL = 268.8cc/7cc= [email protected]
377UL = 368.4cc/7cc= [email protected]
447UL = 436.7cc/7cc= [email protected]
503UL = 496.9cc/7cc= [email protected]

Kawasaki:
292 = 292.5cc/7cc= [email protected]
340 = 339.4cc/7cc= [email protected]
440 = 435.9cc/7cc= [email protected]

Where can a person source an exhaust system as you described?

 

[Turd Ferguson]

I probably am best served by fully wringing out my newly completed Mini Max and seeing how much fun I can have with it

Did your minimax make ultralight weight? 254# ??

 

[Armilite]

Where can a person source an exhaust system as you described?

=======================

Currently, as far as I know, Nobody is making any Tuned Pipes for Airplane use for Rotax's, Hirths, or Compact Radial! Simonini and Polini Engines come with a Tuned Pipe. There are 4-5 Tuned Pipe Manufactures (JAWS, Aaen, SLP, etc) for Snowmobile Engines but they want nothing to do with Aircraft Engines. Water Cooled Sled Engines Tuned Pipes are usually Designed for 7750rpm to 8000rpm Stock. Racing can go up to 12,000rpm. Fan Cooled Sled Engines Tuned Pipes are Designed for 7000rpm to 7500rpm Stock!

Rotax Rick makes a Tuned Pipe for his Skidoo/Rotax 670 Conversion for Airplane use that makes [email protected]pm!

Here is a Good Article on How to Build your own Tuned Pipe. For Airplane use 6500rpm should be used. A Simple Rule of Thumb to use is it takes 7cc to make 1hp at 6500rpm using 11.5cr and proper Size Carb. So take your Engines CC, say a Rotax 377UL, Skidoo 377F/380F = 368.4cc/7cc= 52.6hp! So in the Tune Pipe Software that is the Max hp you would want to Input. You can Gain 10-15% more hp by just Porting the Cylinder & Case. Look on Youtube.

There is other Tuned Pipe Software out there, but I like this guy's Cheap Pipe Designer and his Free Cone Designer programs.

Pipe Designer | Ezin Hobeki

ypvsbox.free.fr

Build a "Tuned" Pipe for a 2-stroke

Build a

Build a "Tuned" Pipe for a 2-stroke: Two stroke engines fascinate me. They are so simple and fun that I've always enjoyed tinkering with them. There are many ways to boost the power, one of which is by installing a "tuned" pipe. The way a two stroke motor wo…

www.instructables.com

This guy makes the Tuned Pipe as a Basic Straight Tuned Pipe, then Dyno's it. Then if he's Happpy, he then cuts it up to make it fit the Sled, Bike, etc.

Download & READ this Free Book, 2 Stroke Tuners Handbook.

http://www.amrca.com/tech/tuners.pdf

Two-Stroke Pipe Building - Intro Ep. 1

Two-Stroke Pipe Building - Rolling Steel Ep. 2

Two-Stroke Pipe Building - Welding Ep. 3

Two-Stroke Pipe Building - Assembly Ep. 4

There is a Free, Simple, Tune Pipe App called 2 Stroke Exhaust Calculator for Smartphones. The bottom Box should be 2.0 for Wide Power Band. This makes a Straight Tuned Pipe! Then use the CONE program to make Turns.

2 Stroke exhaust calculator - Apps on Google Play

A simple 3 stage two stroke exhaust calculator

play.google.com

Use a DIGITAL CALIPER 6 INCH $24 like this to measure your Cylinder Ports.

 

[vers]

Ultralight News says:

Sportlite 103 Ultralight
The Lite Sport Classic features standard three-axis control, side by side seating using a center-mounted stick and dual throttles and rudder pedals, with a steerable nosewheel. The Lite Sport Ultra again features standard three-axis controls. It is available in a single place version, or a longer fuselage version two place. As a single place powered by the Rotax 447UL (40hp) the Lite Sport Ultra is a Legal Part 103 ultralight aircraft. The kit is available as a raw materials kit in which you do all the cutting, drilling and bending yourself, or as a quick build kit where you bolt the craft together and install your sail covering.	​
The factory reports that approximately 300 aircraft are currently flying. Free Bird Innovations, Inc. PO Box 904 1380 Legion Road Detroit Lakes, MN 56502Phone: 1-800-850-3708 or 218-844-5914

I don't see any other Spec's for the Part 103 version other than what's mentioned above.

For the Light Sport version they say these Spec's.

LiteSport Classic Specifications:
• Gross Weight: 900 lbs
• Empty Weight: 450 lbs
• Useful Load: 450 lbs
• Wingspan: 26 ft
• Wing Area: 121 sq ft
• Length: 17 ft
• Height: 6 ft 2\8 in
• Fuel Capacity: 10 gallons
• Build Time: 125 hours

Performance:
The Engine used for Tests: Rotax 582UL.
• Power: 65 hp
• Cruise: 80 mph
• Stall Speed: 32 mph
• VNE Speed: 110 mph
• Rate of Climb: 800 fpm
• Takeoff Distance: 125 ft
• Top Speed: 90 mph

I found these Spec's for the Part 103 version, but a little confusing, Why they don't just make separate Columns.

​

Sportlite 103 Specifications Performance​
Empty Weight	250 lbs
Gross Weight:	530 lbs (single seat)
Gross Weight:	900 lbs (two seat)
Wingspan:	26 ft 6 in
Wing Area:	127 sq ft
Length:	16 ft 7 in
Height:	6 ft 8 in
Fuel Capacity:	5 gallons
Build Time (kit);	125 hours
Build Time (plans):	250 hours
Rotax 447:	40 hp
Cruise:	55 mph
Top Speed;	62 mph
Stall Speed:	22 mph
VNE Speed:	75 mph
Rate of Climb;	850 fpm
Takeoff Distance:	75 ft

When this plane came out in 2006, the 277UL (28hp) & 377UL (35hp) had already been Discontinued, and the 447UL (40hp) was Discontinued shortly after that. So was the 503UL (50hp).

So if it will make Part 103 Weight of 254 lbs with a Rotax 447UL, it will make Weight with a Rotax 377UL, & 277UL, a Kawasaki 340/440, a Hirth F23, F33, F36, the MZ34, and a Simonini Mini 3, and the Polini 250 DS. Avg Pilot Weight falls between 180-235 lbs. If Plane is 250 lbs + 30 lbs (GAS) + 235 lb (Pilot) = 515 lbs.

515 lbs = 233.6001 kg / 10 kg = 23.36001 kw needed = 31.32629 hp needed.

Will it Fly at Full at that MTOW of 515 lbs on 26hp, 28hp, Yes! But Performance will suffer. Part 103 is not about Performance as much as about Flight Time with only 5 Gallons!

530 lbs = 240.404 kg / 10 kg = 24.0404 kw needed = 32.23871 hp needed.

900 lbs = 408.2331 kg / 10 kg = 40.82331 kw needed = 54.74496 hp needed!

A 377UL built to the 380HO Spec's can make [email protected]! It Dynoed [email protected] with an aftermarket Tuned Pipe! A 447UL is a 377UL 62mm Cylinder Big Bored to 67.5mm. You can actually go up to a 503UL 72mm Bore with a Custom made Sleeve.

With a Good Wide Band Tuned Pipe Designed for 6500rpm, Proper Carb and using 11.5cr:

Rotax:
277UL = 268.8cc/7cc= [email protected]
377UL = 368.4cc/7cc= [email protected]
447UL = 436.7cc/7cc= [email protected]
503UL = 496.9cc/7cc= [email protected]

Kawasaki:
292 = 292.5cc/7cc= [email protected]
340 = 339.4cc/7cc= [email protected]
440 = 435.9cc/7cc= [email protected]

Where can one source a well tuned muffler as you described?

 

[KenAdams]

i have decided not to go ahead with the build of the Freebird Aviation Sportlite 103 at this time, I probably am best served by fully wringing out my newly completed Mini Max and seeing how much fun I can have with it, rather than trying to do that, build a new one, work full time, all at age 73, so I am offering the full package here for $99, I paid $225, buyer to be responsible for shipping($25-50)thanks,I found the package to be excellent overall and I have had a dozen or so sets of plans for comparison. Kim Brown

I know this is an old thread, but I was wondering if you still had the Sportlite 103 plans available.

Thanks,

Ken