Joplin Tundra

{{Short description|CzechCanadian ultralight aircraft}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Use Canadian English|date=December 2022}} {{About|the Tundra ultralight aircraft |larger homebuilt aircraft|Dream Tundra}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Joplin Tundra | logo = | logo_size = | image = Back Forty Tundra C-IJGB 01.JPG | alt = | caption = Back Forty Tundra | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Ultralight aircraft]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[United States]] | manufacturer = [[Back Forty Developments]]<br />[[Joplin Light Aircraft]]<br />[[Laron Aviation]] | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = No longer in production | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Joplin Tundra''' is a family of [[Canada|Canadian]], [[high-wing]], [[strut]]-braced, [[pusher configuration]] [[ultralight aircraft]] that was originally produced by [[Back Forty Developments]] of [[Campbellford, Ontario]], [[Canada]] and later by [[Joplin Light Aircraft]] of [[Joplin, Missouri]] and [[Laron Aviation]] of [[Borger, Texas]] for [[homebuilt aircraft|amateur construction]]. The aircraft is out of production.<ref name="Cliche">Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, pages B-63 & B-110. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref><ref name="WDLA04">Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04'', page 145. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X</ref><ref name="Aerocrafter">Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', page 162-164. BAI Communications. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}</ref>

==Design and development== The initial model of the Tundra family was the two-seats-in-[[tandem]] [[tricycle gear]] Tundra for the US ultralight trainer, homebuilt and European [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale|FAI]] microlight categories. The aircraft features a semi-enclosed cockpit with optional doors and can be fitted with skis or floats.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="WDLA04" /><ref name="Aerocrafter" />

The Tundra is built from a welded steel cockpit cage with a [[fibreglass]] fairing. The tailboom, tail group and wings are of [[aluminium]] construction, with the wings and tail surfaces covered in doped [[aircraft fabric]]. The wing incorporates a D-cell, Junkers-style [[ailerons]] and a single strut layout.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="WDLA04" />

The standard engine is the {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 503]] twin-cylinder, [[two-stroke]] aircraft engine, with the liquid-cooled {{convert|74|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 618]], {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 582]], {{convert|65|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Hirth 2706]] or the {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[SuziAir]] three-cylinder engines optional. Reported construction time for the two-seater is 250 hours.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="WDLA04" /><ref name="Aerocrafter" />

The two-seater Tundra was later developed into a [[conventional landing gear]] single-seat ultralight for the US [[FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles]] category, including meeting the category's stringent {{convert|254|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} empty weight limit. The resulting aircraft was introduced in 1997 and was designated the ''1/2 Tun'' indicating it was "half a Tundra". This version had the wingspan reduced from the two-seater's {{convert|32|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} to {{convert|26|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}. The cockpit steel tube structure was also reduced, along with the cockpit fairing and the fuel tank was changed to {{convert|5|USgal|L|0|abbr=on}} capacity, from the two-seater's {{convert|10|USgal|L|0|abbr=on}} tank. Reported construction time for the 1/2 Tun is also 250 hours. The 1/2 Tun's standard engine is the {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 447]] twin-cylinder, two-stroke aircraft engine.<ref name="Cliche" />

==Variants== [[File:Back Forty Tundra C-IJGB 02.JPG|thumb|right|A Back Forty Developments Tundra]] ;Tundra :Two-seat model with tricycle landing gear and a {{convert|32|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} wingspan. Fifteen were reported flying in 1998.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="WDLA04" /><ref name="Aerocrafter" /> ;1/2 Tun :Single-seat model with conventional landing gear and a {{convert|26|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} wingspan.<ref name="Cliche" />

==Specifications (1/2 Tun) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Cliche<ref name="Cliche" /> |prime units?=imp  |genhide= |crew=one |capacity= |length m= |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m= |span ft=26 |span in=0 |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=250 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=550 |gross weight note= |fuel capacity=5 US gallons (19 litres) |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Rotax 447]] |eng1 type= |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=40 |prop blade number=2 |prop name=ground adjustable |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note=

|perfhide= |max speed kmh= |max speed mph=63 |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=55 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=25 |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles=165 |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft=10000 |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=1000 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==See also== {{aircontent  |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= *[[Spectrum Beaver]] |lists= }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Commons category inline}}

[[Category:1990s Canadian ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:High-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear]]