# Belite Aircraft Superlite

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Superlite A Belite Trike General information Type Ultralight aircraft National origin United States of America Manufacturer Belite Aircraft Designer James Wiebe Number built 10 (2011) History Developed from Kitfox Lite

Belite Superlite

The **Belite Superlite,** originally the product of [Belite Aircraft](/source/Belite_Aircraft), is a single-seat, [high-wing](/source/High-wing), single-engine [ultralight aircraft](/source/Ultralight_aircraft) developed from the [Kitfox Lite](/source/Kitfox_Lite) aircraft especially for the United States [FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles](/source/FAR_103_Ultralight_Vehicles) category.[1][2][3][4]

## Design and development

Designer James Wiebe bought the assets and tooling of the [Kitfox Lite](/source/Kitfox_Lite) from Skystar. He modified the prototype Kitfox Lite to meet FAR 103 regulations requiring an ultralight aircraft to have an empty weight of less than 254 lb (115 kg).[1][2][3][5]

The fuselage is made from [4130 steel](/source/4130_steel) tubing. [Flaperons](/source/Flaperon) and [vortex generators](/source/Vortex_generator) are used to improve roll control and low speed flight. The wings are foldable for storage.[1][2][3]

Items were substituted with [carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer](/source/Carbon-fiber-reinforced_polymer) to make the aircraft lighter than a Kitfox Lite. This included the tailwheel leaf spring, wing spars, wing ribs (aluminum on later kits), [lift struts](/source/Lift_strut), firewall, [elevator](/source/Elevator_(aircraft)) and fuel tank.[1][5] A variety of engines may be used such as the [Hirth F33](/source/Hirth_F33), [Hirth F-23](/source/Hirth_F-23), [Zanzottera MZ 34](/source/Zanzottera_MZ_34), 1/2 [Volkswagen air-cooled engine](/source/Volkswagen_air-cooled_engine) and the [Zanzottera MZ 201](/source/Zanzottera_MZ_201).[1][2][3]

## Variants

**254**
- The basic ultralight fuselage design, for powerplants of 28 to 45 hp (21 to 34 kW).[1][2][3][6]

**Superlite**
- Maximum weight reduction fuselage for larger engines of 50 hp (37 kW), with an empty weight of 278 lb (126 kg) when equipped with the [Hirth F-23](/source/Hirth_F-23) engine of 50 hp (37 kW).[1][2][3][4]

**Trike**
- A tricycle gear version of the Superlite, with an empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg) when equipped with the [Hirth F-33](/source/Hirth_F-33) engine of 30 hp (22 kW).[1][2][4]

## Specifications (Superlite)

*Data from* Sport Aviation

**General characteristics**

- **Capacity:** 1

- **Wingspan:** 25 ft 2 in (7.67 m)

- **Empty weight:** 254 lb (115 kg)

- **Gross weight:** 550 lb (249 kg)

- **Fuel capacity:** 5 US gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal)

- **[Ballistic parachute](/source/Ballistic_parachute):** Second Chantz system

- **Powerplant:** 1 × Compact Radial MZ-201 two stroke, 45 hp (34 kW)

- **Propellers:** 2-bladed

**Performance**

- **Cruise speed:** 48 kn (55 mph, 89 km/h)

- **Stall speed:** 24 kn (28 mph, 45 km/h)

- **Rate of climb:** 400 ft/min (2.0 m/s)

- **Wing loading:** 5.56 lb/sq ft (27.1 kg/m2)

**Avionics**

- Belite Electronics lightweight electronic gauges

## Popular culture

A Belite aircraft was used in the show [Mythbusters Episode 174 – Duct Tape Plane](/source/List_of_MythBusters_episodes). A Belite was "mauled" by an artificial bear claw with the damage being limited to the [fabric skin](/source/Aircraft_fabric_covering) of the rear fuselage and [vertical stabilizer](/source/Vertical_stabilizer). The [control surfaces](/source/Flight_control_surfaces) were not damaged during the destruction. The aircraft was then repaired with [Duct-Tape](/source/Duct_tape) and successfully flown.[7]

Note: This is not to be confused with [Speed tape](/source/Speed_tape).

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-flight_review_2011_02_11_kitplanes_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-flight_review_2011_02_11_kitplanes_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-flight_review_2011_02_11_kitplanes_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-flight_review_2011_02_11_kitplanes_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-flight_review_2011_02_11_kitplanes_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-flight_review_2011_02_11_kitplanes_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-flight_review_2011_02_11_kitplanes_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-flight_review_2011_02_11_kitplanes_1-7) ["Flight Review Return of the Ultralight"](https://www.kitplanes.com/flight-review-return-of-the-ultralight/) (Belite aircraft reviewed), February 11, 2011, *Kitplanes,* retrieved August 17, 2022

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-WDLA11_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-WDLA11_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-WDLA11_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-WDLA11_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-WDLA11_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-WDLA11_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-WDLA11_2-6) Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: *World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12*, page 32. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-WDLA15_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-WDLA15_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-WDLA15_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-WDLA15_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-WDLA15_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-WDLA15_3-5) Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: *World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16*, page 34. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1368-485X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1368-485X)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2011_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2011_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2011_4-2) Vandermeullen, Richard: *2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide*, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, pages 45-46. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ReferenceA_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ReferenceA_5-1) *EAA Sport Pilot & Light Sport Aircraft*. September 2009. {{[cite journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_journal)}}: Missing or empty |title= ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#citation_missing_title))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** *Kitplanes*. April 2011. {{[cite journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_journal)}}: Missing or empty |title= ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#citation_missing_title))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Not a Myth: Duct Tape-Covered Plane Flies"](http://www.youngeagles.org/news/2011%20-%2010_20%20-%20Not%20a%20Myth_%20Duct%20Tape-Covered%20Plane%20Flies.asp). Retrieved 28 October 2011.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Belite Aircraft Superlite](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Belite_Aircraft_Superlite).

- [Official website](http://www.beliteaircraft.com/)

v t e Belite Aircraft Fixed wing aircraft 254 Sealite Superlite Trike Ultra Cub

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Belite Aircraft Superlite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belite_Aircraft_Superlite) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belite_Aircraft_Superlite?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.