ADI Bumble Bee

{{Short description|Ultralight gyrocopter}}  {{Infobox aircraft |name=ADI Bumble Bee |image= |caption= |type=Ultralight autogyro |manufacturer=Aircraft Designs Inc |designer=Martin Hollmann |first_flight=1983 |introduction= |retired= |status=Plans available |primary_user= |more_users= |produced= |number_built= |unit cost= |variants= }} The '''ADI Bumble Bee''' (sometimes '''Hollmann Bumble Bee''') is an ultralight gyrocopter marketed by Aircraft Designs Inc (ADI). It was the first of its kind when it flew in 1983 and is still available in plans form for homebuilding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aircraftdesigns.com/gyroplanes.html |title=Gyroplanes |publisher=Aircraftdesigns.com |date=2001-05-05 |accessdate=2012-04-10 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326115344/http://www.aircraftdesigns.com/gyroplanes.html |archivedate=2012-03-26 }}</ref><ref name="Cliche">Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page F-1. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref><ref name="KitplanesFeb2005">Downey, Julia: ''2005 Trikes 'Chutes and Rotorcraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 22, Number 2, February 2005, page 54. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="WDLA04">Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04'', page 203. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X</ref>

It was designed by Martin Hollmann after a back injury (sustained in the crash of the ADI Condor) prevented him from flying his previous design (the ADI Sportster) on account of not being able to lift the rotor assembly.{{Citation needed|date=April 2012}}

==Design and development== The Bumble Bee is a simple and lightweight design that can be built to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of {{convert|254|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. The aircraft has a standard empty weight of {{convert|253|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Cliche" />

The aircraft consists of an open frame based on a keel tube, which supports the nose wheel at the front and the tail at the back. The pilot's seat, the engine and rotor assembly are bolted to the same keel tube. A control stick cyclically controls rotor pitch angle. The powerplant specified is a {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}, twin-cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled, single ignition Rotax 447 mounted in pusher configuration. The {{convert|38.5|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Kawasaki 440 engine has also been used. The landing gear is of tricycle configuration, uses plastic-spoked wheels to reduce weight and does not include suspension. A horizontal tailplane maintains the aircraft pitch angle in flight and a large fin and rudder is provided. The main rotor system is of low-inertia and requires pilot skill to manage energy on landing.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="WDLA04" />

The aircraft plans cost US$160 in 2001. Construction time is estimated as 400 hours, much of which is consumed fabricating the composite rotor blades.<ref name="Cliche" />

==Specifications (ADI Bumble Bee)==

{{Aircraft specs |ref=Bumble Bee Performance and Stress Analysis<ref name="Hollman">{{cite web |last1=Hollmann |first1=Martin |title=Bumble Bee Performance and Stress Analysis |url=http://www.aircraftdesigns.com/media/system/pdf/bumble_bee_analysis.pdf |website=aircraftdesigns.com |accessdate=20 August 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707095838/http://www.aircraftdesigns.com/media/system/pdf/bumble_bee_analysis.pdf |archivedate=7 July 2011 |date=14 July 1984}}</ref> |prime units?=kts  |crew=1 |length ft=10 |length in= |length note= |width ft= |width in= |width note= |height ft=7 |height in=6 |height note= |empty weight lb=213 |empty weight note= |gross weight lb=500 |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Rotax 447 |eng1 type=2-cylinder air-cooled 2-stroke in-line piston engine |eng1 hp=40 |eng1 note=

|rot number=1 |rot dia ft=23 |rot dia in= |rot area sqft= |rot area note=  |max speed kts=49 |max speed note= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range nmi=56 |range note= |ferry range nmi= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling ft=16000 |ceiling note= |climb rate ftmin=1500 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |disk loading lb/sqft=1.2 |disk loading note= |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass={{cvt|0.08|hp/lb}} |more performance=

|avionics= }}

==References== {{reflist}} {{aircontent |lists= }}

Category:Homebuilt aircraft Category:1980s United States ultralight aircraft Bumble Bee Category:Single-engined pusher autogyros