# Fletcher Hercules

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American ultralight airplane

Hercules General information Type Ultralight trike National origin United States Manufacturer Fletcher's Ultralights Designer AW Harrison Status Production completed Number built 25 (February 2000)

The **Fletcher Hercules** is an American two-seat [ultralight trike](/source/Ultralight_trike) that was designed by [AW Harrison](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AW_Harrison&action=edit&redlink=1) and produced by [Fletcher's Ultralights](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fletcher%27s_Ultralights&action=edit&redlink=1) of [Turlock, California](/source/Turlock%2C_California), in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for [amateur construction](/source/Homebuilt_aircraft) and was also available as a completed aircraft.[1][2][3]

## Design and development

The Hercules was designed as a lightweight single-seat aircraft, with a second seat available to carry an instructor or passenger when required. Because it was intended to be flown solo most of the time it came factory-supplied with a relatively low powered engine, to reduce both the aircraft's cost and weight. Higher powered engines were available if the aircraft was to be used in the training role on a regular basis.[1]

In writing about the Hercules, reviewer Andre Cliche explained the engine choice, "Because most people usually fly alone in their two-seater, it makes for a well balanced single seater with peppy performance, low fuel burn and longer range. However, when comes the time to carry an occasional passenger, its two-seater capacity far outweighs its anemic performance with two people aboard. This is a smart compromise that gives the best of both worlds."[1]

The Hercules was designed to comply with the US [FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles](/source/FAR_103_Ultralight_Vehicles) rules when flown as a single-seater, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). It features a [cable-braced](/source/Flying_wires) [hang glider](/source/Hang_glider)-style [high-wing](/source/High-wing), weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-[tandem](/source/Tandem) open cockpit, [tricycle landing gear](/source/Tricycle_landing_gear) and a single engine in [pusher configuration](/source/Pusher_configuration).[1][3]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together [aluminum](/source/Aluminum) tubing, with its single surface wing covered in [Dacron](/source/Dacron) sailcloth. Its 34 ft (10.4 m) span wing is supported by a single tube-type [kingpost](/source/Kingpost) and uses an "A" frame control bar. The standard wing supplied was the Mustang double-surface wing of 190 sq ft (18 m2). A smaller wing of 145 sq ft (13.5 m2) was available to increase cruising speed at the cost of a higher [stall speed](/source/Stall_(flight)).[1][2][3]

The aircraft has an acceptable installed power range of 35 to 80 hp (26 to 60 kW). The standard engine supplied was the twin cylinder [two-stroke](/source/Two-stroke) 35 hp (26 kW) [2si 460-F35](/source/2si_460-F35), with the 50 hp (37 kW) [Rotax 503](/source/Rotax_503) or the 64 hp (48 kW) [Rotax 582](/source/Rotax_582) engines available as options. Other engines used include the 35 hp (26 kW) [Cuyuna UL II-02](/source/Cuyuna_UL_II-02), 40 hp (30 kW) [Rotax 447](/source/Rotax_447), 74 hp (55 kW) [Rotax 618](/source/Rotax_618) and the [four-stroke](/source/Four-stroke) 60 hp (45 kW) [HKS 700E](/source/HKS_700E).[1][2][3]

Due to its off-airport capabilities the Hercules was nicknamed "the jeep of trikes". It is noted for its ease of set-up and repair. Twenty-five had been completed and flown by February 2000.[2]

## Variants

**Hercules Cruiser**
- Version marketed circa 1998 with 35 hp (26 kW) [Cuyuna UL II-02](/source/Cuyuna_UL_II-02) engine[3]

**Hercules Cross Country**
- Version marketed circa 1998 with 50 hp (37 kW) [Rotax 503](/source/Rotax_503) engine[3]

## Specifications (version)

*Data from* Cliche and Kitplanes[1][2]

**General characteristics**

- **Crew:** one

- **Capacity:** one passenger

- **Length:** 9 ft (2.7 m)

- **Wingspan:** 34 ft (10 m)

- **Height:** 10 ft (3.0 m)

- **Wing area:** 190 sq ft (18 m2)

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

- **Gross weight:** 600 lb (272 kg)

- **Fuel capacity:** 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal)

- **Powerplant:** 1 × [2si 460-F35](/source/2si_460-F35) twin cylinder [two-stroke](/source/Two-stroke), 35 hp (26 kW)

**Performance**

- **Cruise speed:** 40 mph (64 km/h, 35 kn)

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

- **Range:** 85 mi (137 km, 74 nmi)

- **Service ceiling:** 12,000 ft (3,700 m)

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

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Cliche_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Cliche_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Cliche_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Cliche_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Cliche_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Cliche_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Cliche_1-6) Cliche, Andre: *Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide* 8th Edition, page C-11. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9680628-1-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9680628-1-4)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-KitplanesFeb2000_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-KitplanesFeb2000_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-KitplanesFeb2000_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-KitplanesFeb2000_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-KitplanesFeb2000_2-4) Downey, Julia: *2000 Trike and 'Chute Directory*, Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 2, February 2000, page 45. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_3-5) Purdy, Don: *AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook*, page 162. BAI Communications. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9636409-4-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9636409-4-1)

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