ISON Airbike

{{Short description|Type of aircraft}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Airbike & Tandem Airbike | logo = | logo_size = | image = ISON Airbike Photo 1.jpg | alt = | caption = An Airbike at [[Sun 'n Fun]] 2004 | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Ultralight aircraft]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[United States]] | manufacturer = [[TEAM Aircraft]]<br />[[ISON Aircraft]]<br />[[Jordan Lake Aero]] | design_group = | designer = [[Wayne Ison]] | builder = | issuer = | status = In production (2013) | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 127 (December 1999)<ref name="KitplanesDec1998">Kitplanes Staff: ''1999 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 70. Primedia Publications. IPM 0462012</ref> | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = 1994 | retired = | first_flight = 1994 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''ISON Airbike''' and '''Tandem Airbike''' are a family of [[United States|American]] high-wing, [[tractor configuration]] [[ultralight aircraft]], that were available in kit form. The single-seat Airbike was introduced in 1994 and the two-seat Tandem Airbike was unveiled in 1996.<ref name="KitplanesDec1998" /><ref name="Cliche">Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, pages B-3 & B-68. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref>

Originally produced by TEAM Aircraft of [[Bradyville, Tennessee]], manufacturing passed to ISON Aircraft, also of Bradyville, before the end of kit production. Starting circa 2009 kits became available, once again, this time from [[Jordan Lake Aero]].<ref name="JLA">{{cite web|url = http://jordanlakeaero.com/models.html|title = Airbike Models|access-date = 13 February 2013|last = Jordan Lake Aero|year = 2009}}</ref>

==Development==

The single seat Airbike was designed to meet the requirements of the United States [[Ultralight aircraft (United States)|FAR 103 ''Ultralight Vehicles'']], including the maximum {{convert|254|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} empty weight. The tandem-seat model was intended to be licensed as an ultralight trainer or an [[homebuilt aircraft|amateur-built aircraft]].<ref name="Cliche" />

The single-seater can achieve an empty weight as low as {{convert|251|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} with the use of a light-weight engine, such as the {{convert|28|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 277]] or the {{convert|22|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Zenoah G-25]].<ref name="Cliche" />

The name ''Airbike'' was chosen for the aircraft because it has a narrow [[fuselage]] and the pilot's feet rest on rudder pedals that are on the outside of the aircraft, in a similar manner to a motorcycle.<ref name="Cliche" />

The Tandem Airbike retains all of the single-seater's features and has a stretched fuselage to accommodate the second seat. It uses a wing of {{convert|33.8|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} [[Wingspan|span]] with an area of 152 sq ft (14.14 sq m).<ref name="Cliche" />

==Design== [[File:ISON Airbike Photo 2.jpg|thumb|right|An Airbike at [[Sun 'n Fun]] 2004 showing the external rudder pedals]] Both variants feature a [[parasol wing]] constructed from wood and covered with aircraft fabric. The wing has full-span [[ailerons]] or, in the case of the two-seater, optional electrically actuated [[flaperon]]s. All controls are cable-operated. The [[elevator (aircraft)|elevator]] and [[rudder]] are conventional.<ref name="Cliche" />

The fuselage is made from welded [[41xx steel|4130 steel]] tube and the aircraft has [[conventional landing gear]] with tail wheel steering connected to the rudder pedals. The main landing gear utilises sprung-tubes for suspension and absorbing landing loads.<ref name="Cliche" />

The Airbike was sold as an assembly [[homebuilt aircraft|kit]]. The kit included a pre-welded fuselage and tail, pre-built main wing spars and ribs, all brackets and fittings, landing gear, engine, propeller, instruments and a five-gallon fuel tank. The company estimated the time to complete the aircraft at 150 hours for the single-seater. The price in 2001 for the single-seat Airbike was [[United States Dollar|US$]]7195<ref name="Cliche" />

The Tandem Airbike had a factory estimated construction time of 200–300 hours or 100–150 hours if the ''quick-built kit option'' was purchased. In 2001 the kits price was US$8000 without engine or propeller.<ref name="Cliche" />

==Operational history==

In December 1998 the company reported that 127 single-seaters were flying (the majority as US unregistered ultralights) and 23 tandem-seaters. In July 2009 there were 45 Airbikes registered as [[homebuilt aircraft|experimental amateur-builts]] or [[light sport aircraft]] in the USA.<ref name="KitplanesDec1998" /><ref name="FAA">{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/acftinqSQL.asp?striptxt=Airbike&mfrtxt=&cmndfind.x=0&cmndfind.y=0&cmndfind=submit&modeltxt=Airbike|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|access-date = 27 July 2009|last = [[Federal Aviation Administration]]|date = July 2009|archive-date = 17 February 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120217035125/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/acftinqSQL.asp?striptxt=Airbike&mfrtxt=&cmndfind.x=0&cmndfind.y=0&cmndfind=submit&modeltxt=Airbike|url-status = dead}}</ref>

==Variants== ;Airbike :Single seat aircraft designed for the US ultralight category. Engine options were the {{convert|28|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 277]], {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 447]] or {{convert|22|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Zenoah G-25]].<ref name="KitplanesDec1998" /><ref name="Cliche" /> ;Tandem Airbike :Two-seat aircraft designed as an ultralight trainer or amateur-built. Standard engine was the {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 503]].<ref name="KitplanesDec1998" /><ref name="Cliche" />

==Specifications (Airbike with Rotax 447) ==

{{Aircraft specs |prime units? = imp |ref= KitPlanes<ref name="KitplanesDec1998" /> & Cliche<ref name="Cliche" /> |crew=one |capacity= |length ft= 16 |length in= 0 |length m=4.88 |span ft= 26 |span in= 0 |span m=7.93 |height ft=5 |height in=6 |height m=1.68 |wing area sqft= 118 |wing area sqm= 10.98 |empty weight lb= 257 |empty weight kg= 116 |max takeoff weight lb= 560 |max takeoff weight kg= 254 |eng1 name=[[Rotax 447]] |eng1 type= fixed pitch |eng1 number=1 |eng1 hp= 40 |eng1 kw=30 |max speed mph= 80 |max speed kmh=130 |cruise speed mph= 63 |cruise speed kmh=102 |stall speed mph= 30 |stall speed kmh= 49 |range nmi= 150 |range km=279 |climb rate ftmin= 1000 |climb rate ms= 5.1 |wing loading lb/sqft=4.75 |wing loading kg/m2=23.1 |power/mass=14 lb/hp (0.12 kW/kg) }} ==See also== {{aircontent |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= *[[Affordaplane]] *[[Milholland Legal Eagle]] *[[Avid Champion]] *[[Beaujon Enduro]] *[[Capella Javelin]] *[[Dart Skycycle]] *[[Freebird I]] *[[Wings of Freedom Flitplane]] |lists= }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}}

[[Category:1990s United States ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1994]] [[Category:High-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]]