Flylab Tucano

Design and development

The Tucano is a derivative of the Chotia Weedhopper and was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight rules with the design goal of being a low-cost aircraft. It features a strut-braced parasol wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed or open cockpit, fixed tricycle landing gear or floats and a single engine in pusher configuration or on some models twin engines in centreline thrust arrangement.

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its flying surfaces covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 10.17 m (33.4 ft) span wing has an area of 17 m² (180 sq ft) and is supported by V-struts and jury struts. There is a cabane strut that passes though the windshield and cockpit area. The aircraft is built around a central bent aluminum keel tube that runs from the cockpit to the tail. Controls are standard three-axis type. Standard engines available are the 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 and 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 two-stroke powerplants. The fuel tank is of plastic construction, mounted under the pusher engine. The Tucano V has a glide ratio of 11:1.

Variants

Tucano

Base model with Rotax 582 powerplant.

Tucano V

Improved model, with aerodynamic clean-ups and enclosed cockpit

Tucano HV

A Tucano V mounted on floats (hydro).

Tucano Delta3

Open cockpit model powered by a Rotax 503

Tucano HD3

Float-equipped model based on the Tucano Delta3, powered by a Rotax 503

Tucano HD3A

Amphibious float-equipped model based on the Tucano HD3, powered by a Rotax 503

Tucano Delta3 TW

Twin-engined (TW) version with Rotax 582 engines mounted in the nose and aft of the cockpit, based on the Tucano Delta3

Tucano Delta3 VTW

Twin-engined version with Rotax 582 engines mounted in the nose and aft of the cockpit, with the Tucano V aerodynamic and cockpit refinements

Tucano X2

Twin-engined version with Rotax 582 engines mounted in the nose and aft of the cockpit, produced in the 1990s by Ferrari ULM.

Specifications (Tucano V)

Data from Bayerl and Flylab

General characteristics

Crew: one

Capacity: one passenger

Length: 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in)

Wingspan: 10.17 m (33 ft 4 in)

Height: 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in)

Wing area: 16.99 m² (182.9 sq ft)

Empty weight: 225 kg (496 lb)

Gross weight: 450 kg (992 lb)

Fuel capacity: 76 litres (17 imp gal; 20 US gal)

Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 582 twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 48 kW (64 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 165 km/h (103 mph; 89 kn)

Cruising speed: 125 km/h (78 mph; 67 kn)

Stall speed: 52 km/h (32 mph; 28 kn)

Never exceed speed: 170 km/h (106 mph; 92 kn)

Maximum glide ratio: 11:1

Rate of climb: 5.5 m/s (1,080 ft/min)

Wing loading: 26.49 kg/m² (5.43 lb/sq ft)