The Ameri-Cana Eureka is a Canadian designed and built low-wing, single seat, conventional landing gear-equipped ultralight aircraft that was produced as a kit by Ameri-Cana Ultralights of Irricana, Alberta between 1997 and 2003.[1][2][3][4]
| Ameri-Cana Eureka | |
|---|---|
| Role | Ultralight aircraft |
| National origin | Canada |
| Manufacturer | Ameri-Cana Ultralights |
| Designer | Wilf Stark |
| First flight | August 1997 |
| Introduction | 1997 |
| Status | Production completed July 2003 |
Development
editDesigner Wilf Stark conceived the Eureka as a US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles compliant aircraft. Stark identified that the US market lacked "an affordable Ultralight that is also easy to build".[3]
Stark further noted: "Although there are ultralight kits available for about $4500-$6500 (prior to engine purchase), they often require building and fabrication times that can approach 600 to 1000 hours for first-time builders. This realistically translates into 2 or more years of building time that somehow has to be accommodated among other family obligations. It is a sad statistic that less than one-third of purchased airplane kits ever get completed by the original purchaser. They either quietly wither away in a corner, or they are sold at a fraction of their original price, to be completed by someone else."[3]
Another aim of the design was to keep the complete purchase cost under US$6000 as the designer felt that this was the maximum figure that most builders could justify without causing marital discord.[1][5]
As a result, he designed the Eureka to be both inexpensive and quick to construct from an assembly kit. The kit included pre-built wings, tail and fuselage that could be bolted together in about 20 hours of labour for the airframe, giving a total assembly time of two weekends.[3][5]
The aircraft is constructed predominantly from foam, aluminum and wood with no aircraft fabric used in finishing. Each 12 ft (3.7 m) wing uses a deep spar, foam ribs and is covered in a single pre-painted white aluminum panel. The controls are conventional three-axis, with full-span ailerons and an all-flying rudder. The wings are not folding, but can be removed in five minutes to allow trailering the aircraft.[1][2][3]
To keep costs and aircraft weight down, the recommended engines are the 25 hp (19 kW) Hirth F-33 engine and the Zenoah G-25 of 22 hp (16 kW).[3]
The prototype Eureka first flew in August 1997.[1]
In 1999, reviewer Andre Cliche said: "The kit sells for $6000, which is amazingly low when you consider that this number even includes the engine, propeller and basic instruments. I wonder if they will stay in business for long with such a low profit margin?"[1]
After introduction, the price was increased to US$5000 for the airframe alone, estimating that it could be completed for US$8000 total. The company ceased providing kits in July 2003 stating "The Eureka has been withdrawn from the market due to lack of resources."[3]
Specifications (Eureka)
editData from Ameri-Cana[5]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: 230 lb (104 kg); no passengers
- Length: 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)
- Wingspan: 26 ft 0 in (7.93 m)
- Height: 5 ft 0 in (1.53 m)
- Wing area: 104 sq ft (9.67 m2)
- Empty weight: 230 lb (104 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 460 lb (209 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Hirth F-33 fixed pitch, 25 hp (19 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 63 mph (102 km/h, 55 kn)
- Cruise speed: 55 mph (89 km/h, 48 kn)
- Stall speed: 27 mph (44 km/h, 23 kn)
- Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,050 m)
- Rate of climb: 500 ft/min (2.5 m/s)
- Wing loading: 4.42 lb/sq ft (21.61 kg/m2)
- Power/mass: 18.4 lb/hp (0.091 kW/kg)
See also
editAircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page B-17. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
- ^ a b Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 36. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- ^ a b c d e f g Stark, Wilf (July 2003). "Eureka by Ameri-Cana Ultralights". Retrieved 26 September 2009.
- ^ Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 113. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
- ^ a b c Stark, Wilf (July 2003). "Performance Specifications". Retrieved 26 September 2009.