PulsR | |
---|---|
Role | Ultralight trike |
National origin | United Kingdom |
Manufacturer | P&M Aviation |
Designer | Bill Brooks |
Introduction | 2011 |
Status | In production (2018) |
Produced | 2015-present |
The P&M PulsR ( transl. Pulsar) is a British ultralight trike, designed by Bill Brooks and produced by P&M Aviation of Rochdale. The aircraft is supplied complete and ready-to-fly. [1]
The design was introduced publicly at the Flying Show in Birmingham in December 2011, where writer Demitri Delemarle reported that it "stole the show", due to its unusual semi-enclosed cockpit design. [1]
The PulsR was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, including the category's maximum gross weight of 472.5 kg (1,042 lb) with a ballistic parachute. The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 472.5 kg (1,042 lb) with a ballistic parachute and 450 kg (992 lb) without. [1]
The design was first shown in 2011 and remained in prototype-only form until 2015. [1]
The aircraft design features a strut-braced topless hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in- tandem semi-enclosed cockpit with a cockpit fairing and windshield, tricycle landing gear with main gear wheel pants and a single engine in pusher configuration. [1]
The aircraft fuselage is a monocoque design made from composite carbon fibre, with its double surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 9.26 m (30.4 ft) span wing is supported by struts and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar, which is routed through the open side window spaces in the semi-enclosed fairing. The powerplant is a four-cylinder, air and liquid-cooled, four-stroke, dual-ignition 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS engine. [1] [2]
The aircraft has an empty weight of 251 kg (553 lb) and a gross weight of 472.5 kg (1,042 lb), giving a useful load of 222 kg (489 lb). With full fuel of 78 litres (17 imp gal; 21 US gal) the payload is 166 kg (366 lb). [1] [2]
Writer Demitri Delemarle reports that the design "never fails to attract attention" wherever it is shown, due to its unusual aerodynamic cockpit design, which makes it much faster and gives a better glide ratio than other trikes. [1]
Data from Tacke and manufacturer [1] [2]
General characteristics
Performance