Spectrum Aircraft

{{Short description|Canadian ultralight aircraft manufacturer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox company | name = Spectrum Aircraft | logo = Spectrum Beaver RX550 C-IGOW 02.JPG | logo_size = 200px | caption = | type = | fate = Out of business | Predecessor = | successor = [[Aircraft Sales and Parts]] (ASAP) | foundation = 1983 | defunct = 1992 | location = [[Surrey, British Columbia]], [[Canada]] | industry = [[Aerospace]] | products = [[Spectrum Beaver]] | key_people = | num_employees = | parent = | subsid = }}

'''Spectrum Aircraft''' was a Canadian [[ultralight aircraft]] manufacturer that commenced operations in 1983 and went out of business in 1992. The company was known for its Beaver ultralight design, which remains in production by successor companies in the 21st century.<ref name="Cliche">Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, pages B-9 B-70, B-103 & E-6. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref><ref name="Johnson">{{cite web|url = http://www.ultralight.ca/articles2.htm|title = Canada's Popular Beaver Gets a New Lease on Life|accessdate = 2009-08-05|last = Johnson|first = Dan|authorlink = |date=April 2000}}</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2007">Downey, Julia: ''2008 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 37. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref>

==History== [[File:Spectrum RX-550 Beaver C-IATG 03.JPG|thumb|right|[[Spectrum Beaver|Spectrum Beaver RX 550]]]] Sprectrum's first product was the [[Spectrum Beaver|RX-28 Beaver]], a single-seat, high wing ultralight aircraft powered by a {{convert|28|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 277]] single cylinder, two stroke powerplant. It was introduced in 1983 and gained quick popularity in Canada and the USA. The following year the RX-28 was joined in production by the [[Spectrum Beaver|RX-35]], which used the {{convert|35|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 377]] engine.<ref name="Cliche" />

In 1986 the company started production of a two-seat version of the Beaver, designated the [[Spectrum Beaver|RX 550]] and powered by a [[Rotax 503]] {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} engine. This model proved very popular as both a [[Trainer (aircraft)|trainer]] and for private use and propelled the company into the forefront of ultralight aircraft production in North America.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="Johnson" />

In 1991 the company introduced the [[Spectrum Beaver|RX-650 Beaver]], intending to market it in the then-newly introduced Canadian [[Ultralight aircraft (Canada)#Advanced ultra-light aeroplane|Advanced Ultra-light Aeroplane]] (AULA) category that allows passenger carrying. The aircraft proved to have structural issues that caused [[Transport Canada]] to remove it from the AULA list. The company went out of business in 1992, before rectifying the deficiencies in the RX-650's design.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="AULA">{{cite web|url =http://www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/general/CCARCS/advancedullist.htm|title = Listing of Models Eligible to be Registered as Advanced Ultra-Light Aeroplanes (AULA) |accessdate = 2009-08-05|last = [[Transport Canada]]|authorlink = |date=May 2009}}</ref>

==Successors==

===Beaver RX Enterprises=== The RX-550 design was acquired by a new company, Beaver RX Enterprises, who returned the aircraft to production. The company did not last long and soon went out of business.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="Johnson" /><ref name="AULA" />

===Aircraft Sales and Parts=== In 1995 [[Aircraft Sales and Parts]] (ASAP) of [[Vernon, British Columbia]] purchased the RX-550 tooling and redesigned the aircraft. The new version was designated the [[Spectrum Beaver|RX 550 Plus]] and remains in production in [[homebuilt aircraft|kit]] form. By the end of 2007 a total of 2000 RX 550s had been produced by all manufacturers.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2007" /><ref name="AULA" />

In 2000 ASAP introduced a single seat version of the Beaver based on the RX-28, designated the [[Spectrum Beaver|Beaver SS]] (Single Seat). Powered by a {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 447]] engine and with a wing derived from the RX 550 Plus design, this aircraft remains in kit production.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2007" /><ref name="SSspecs">{{cite web|url = http://www.ultralight.ca/beaverss_specs.htm|title = Beaver SS - General Specs|accessdate = 2009-08-05|last = Aircraft Sales and Parts|authorlink = |year = 2002}}</ref>

===Freedom Lite & Legend Lite=== In 1996 a new company, ''Freedom Lite'', introduced a redesigned version of the Beaver RX 650. This improved RX 650 incorporated 186 changes over the previous version and was designated the [[Spectrum Beaver|SS-11 Skywatch]] and the company placed the aircraft in the Canadian AULA category. Freedom Lite soon went out of business and the design was acquired by ''Legend Lite'' of [[New Hamburg, Ontario]]. This new company also closed its doors in the early 2000s.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="AULA" />

== Aircraft ==

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Model name ! First flight ! Number built ! Type

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Spectrum Aircraft}}

[[Category:Defunct aircraft manufacturers of Canada]] [[Category:Defunct manufacturing companies of Canada]] [[Category:Canadian companies established in 1983]] [[Category:Canadian companies disestablished in 1992]] [[Category:1983 establishments in British Columbia]] [[Category:1992 disestablishments in British Columbia]] [[Category:Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1992]] [[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1983]]