American Sportscopter, Inc., also called American Sportscopter International, Inc., was an American aircraft manufacturer based in Newport News, Virginia. The company specialized in the design and manufacture of helicopters in the form of the Ultrasport line of kits for amateur construction in the homebuilt aircraft and the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles categories.[1][2][3][4]
 | |
| Company type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | before 1998 |
| Fate | Out of business circa 2009 |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Kit aircraft |
| Website | www |
The company was formed before 1998 and seems to have gone out of business by 2010.[5]
The company's first product was the American Sportscopter Ultrasport 254, a single-seat helicopter with an empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg) for the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles category. This was followed by a heavier and more capable single-seat design for the homebuilt category, the American Sportscopter Ultrasport 331. There was also a two-seat trainer, the American Sportscopter Ultrasport 496. All models were named for their empty weight, in pounds.[1][2][3]
Aircraft
edit| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Sportscopter Ultrasport 254 | 18 (2005) | Single seat FAR Part 103 helicopter | |
| American Sportscopter Ultrasport 331 | 6 (2014) | Single seat amateur-built helicopter | |
| American Sportscopter Ultrasport 496 | 7 (2014) | Two-seat amateur-built helicopter |
References
edit- ^ a b Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, pages 318-319. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
- ^ a b Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page F-6. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
- ^ a b Downey, Julia: 2005 Trikes 'Chutes and Rotorcraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 22, Number 2, February 2005, page 54. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- ^ Official Guide to Experimental Aircraft. "American Sportscopter International, Inc". Archived from the original on March 9, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
- ^ American Sportscopter (March 7, 2009). "Home page". Archived from the original on May 25, 1998. Retrieved August 24, 2016.