The Gemini Hummingbird is a family of American single- and two-seat, twin-engined ultralight aircraft. Introduced in 1981, the Hummingbird was designed by Ed Sweeney and produced by Gemini International. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.
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Design and development
The aircraft was designed before the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, but later versions were intended to specifically fit the category. The Hummingbird features a high wing, a V-tail, an open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and twin, wing-mounted engines in tractor configuration.
The aircraft is made from aluminum tubing, with its flying surfaces covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 70% double-surface, 36 ft (11.0 m) span wing is cable-braced from an inverted "V" kingpost on early models and is strut-braced on later versions. The pilot is accommodated in a web sling seat that allows foot-launching, an unwritten requirement for ultralights in the USA prior to FAR 103. The controls are three-axis, but on the Sport model the control stick activates all surfaces, including the ruddervators. The later 103 model introduced rudder pedals. The landing gear lacks suspension, but does feature nosewheel steering.
In 2009 Sweeney was experimenting with dual electric motors for a new model of the Hummingbird.
Variants
Specifications (Hummingbird 103)
Data from Cliche
General characteristics
Performance