Spectrum Beaver

{{Short description|Canadian ultralight aircraft}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Use Canadian English|date=February 2023}} {{For|the de Havilland bushplane|de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Beaver | logo = | logo_size = | image = ASAP Beaver RX550 Plus C-IEVC.jpeg | alt = | caption = ASAP Beaver RX 550 Plus | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Ultralight aircraft]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[Canada]] | manufacturer = [[Spectrum Aircraft]]<br />[[Beaver RX Enterprises]]<br />[[Fun Flight Inc]]<br />[[Aircraft Sales and Parts]] | design_group = | designer = Larry Croome | builder = | issuer = | status = Kits in production | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 2080 (2011)<ref name="KitplanesDec2011">Vandermeullen, Richard: ''2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide'', Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 36. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref> | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = 1983 | retired = | first_flight = 1983 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = [[Freedom Lite SS-11 Skywatch]] | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Spectrum Beaver''' is a family of single- and two-place, [[pusher configuration]], high-wing [[ultralight aircraft]] that were designed by Larry Croome and first introduced by [[Spectrum Aircraft]] of [[Surrey, British Columbia]], [[Canada]], in 1983.<ref name="KitplanesDec2007">Downey, Julia: ''2008 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 37. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><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>

Beaver ultralights have evolved as designs over time, have been produced by several companies and remain in production in the 21st century.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="Johnson">{{cite web|url = http://www.ultralight.ca/articles2.htm|title = Canada's Popular Beaver Gets a New Lease on Life|access-date = 2009-08-05|last = Johnson|first = Dan|date = April 2000|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090826233224/http://www.ultralight.ca/articles2.htm|archive-date = 2009-08-26|url-status = dead}}</ref>

==Development== The first model Beaver was the RX-28, a simple lightweight single-seat aircraft that was intended to comply with the US [[Ultralight aircraft (United States)|FAR 103 ''Ultralight Vehicles'']] category, including the category's maximum {{convert|254|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} empty weight. The model designation indicated that it was ''Rotax-28 hp'' as it was powered by the {{convert|28|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 277]] single-cylinder, two-stroke powerplant. With this engine the RX-28 had an empty weight of {{convert|232|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Cliche" />

The availability of the {{convert|35|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 377]] engine led to a higher-powered version of the RX-28, which was designated the RX-35. This Beaver model was fitted with floats and continued in production by Spectrum Aircraft until they ceased business in 1992. The RX-35 was a predictable and extremely nimble flyer with a respectable roll rate. Not designed with the intentions of negative flight, the RX-35 was flown very aggressively -yet excellently including light negative loadings by a highly skilled pilot named Dennis Maitlin(spelling?). There is an older video depicting a student out of control, showing his high skill doing fantastic maneuvers including inverted -however much too close to the ground and not a good example of responsible flight.<ref name="Cliche" />

Building on the success of the single-seat Beaver models, Spectrum Aircraft introduced the two-place Beaver RX 550 in December 1984. The fuselage was shown at an ultralight trade show in Los Angeles and test flown in February 1985. It quickly became the most popular ultralight trainer in Canada. The combination of its predictable and docile handling, along with the reliable [[Rotax 503]] {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} engine, ensured its success. Larry Croome left Spectrum Aircraft Inc in 1986. Up to year 1990 more than 1800 kits were delivered around the world including Africa.<ref name="Cliche" />

Intending to improve on the RX 550, Spectrum introduced the Beaver RX 650 in 1991, intending to place it in the [[Ultralight aircraft (Canada)#Advanced ultra-light aeroplane|Advanced Ultra-light Aeroplane]] category (AULA) in Canada. The RX 650 has doors that fold upwards, making it ideal for use on floats. The cockpit cage was changed to welded steel tube, from the previously used aluminum, and a sprung tailwheel was added. In service, the 650 quickly proved to have structural issues and its acceptance in the AULA category was rescinded by [[Transport Canada]] until the issues could be rectified. Most customer 650s were kept flying by operating them in the [[Ultralight aircraft (Canada)#Basic ultra-light aeroplane|Basic Ultra-light Aeroplane]] category. Spectrum Aircraft went out of business in 1992, prior to rectifying the issues with the 650.<ref name="Cliche" />

A new company, [[Beaver RX Enterprises]] acquired the design and commenced production of the RX 550, placing it in the AULA category. They did not produce the single-seaters or the RX 650. Despite demand for the Beaver, the company soon went out of business.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="Johnson" /><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) |access-date = 2009-08-05|last = [[Transport Canada]]|date=May 2009}}</ref>

[[Fun Flight Inc]] of [[Alexandria, Virginia]], United States, also produced the RX550 model in the late 1990s.<ref name="Aerocrafter">Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter – Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition'', pages 166 and 168. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}</ref>

In 1995, [[Aircraft Sales and Parts]] (ASAP) of [[Vernon, British Columbia]], purchased the Beaver tooling and redesigned the RX 550. The new version, designated the ''RX 550 Plus'', incorporated a new wing with a greater number of wing ribs and [[standard aircraft fabric]] replacing the [[Polyethylene terephthalate|Dacron]] covering. The ASAP RX 550 Plus remains in production and available in kit form. It can be registered in the Canadian Basic and Advanced ultralight categories as well as in the US and Canadian [[homebuilt aircraft|amateur-built aircraft]] categories. By the end of 2007, a total of 2000 RX 550s had been produced by all manufacturers.<ref name="KitplanesDec2007" /><ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="AULA" />

In 1996, a new company, [[Freedom Lite]] of [[Walton, Ontario]], reintroduced the Beaver RX 650, first displaying it at [[Sun 'n Fun]] that year. The improved RX 650 incorporated 186 changes over the previous RX 650 design and the company renamed it the [[Freedom Lite SS-11 Skywatch]]. The wings use conventional aircraft fabric instead of Dacron, giving build times of about 250 hours. 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" /><ref name="Aerocrafter" />

In 2000, the manufacturer of RX 550 Plus kits, ASAP, reintroduced a single-seat version of the Beaver, designated the ''Beaver SS'' (Single Seat). This is similar to the original RX-28, but powered by a {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 447]] engine and with a wing derived from the RX 550 Plus design, with additional ribs. The new wing is covered in standard aircraft fabric and incorporates drag tubes in place of the original drag wires. The empty weight has increased somewhat to {{convert|340|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, putting it above the maximum empty weight for the US FAR 103 category. In Canada, it can be flown in the basic ultralight category or amateur-built. By the end of 2007, ten had been completed and flown.<ref name="KitplanesDec2007" /><ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="SSspecs">{{cite web|url = http://www.ultralight.ca/beaverss_specs.htm|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040820080351/http://www.ultralight.ca/beaverss_specs.htm|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2004-08-20|title = Beaver SS – General Specs|access-date = 2009-08-05|last = Aircraft Sales and Parts|year = 2002}}</ref>

==Design== The Beaver family of aircraft all have similar construction, with the frame fuselage constructed around a single longitudinal 6061-T6 [[aluminum]] tube that supports the tail, landing gear and seats. The wings and engine mount are similarly of 6061-T6 aluminum tube and attached to the main tube by connecting [[strut]]s. The wing features aluminum tube [[Spar (aviation)|spars]] and [[Rib (aircraft)|ribs]]. All Beavers prior to the RX 550 Plus and the SS had pre-sewn [[Dacron]] envelopes, which enabled builders to complete the kits in as little as 100 hours. The later models use [[Aircraft fabric covering|conventional fabric]] methods and this makes the factory-claimed build times 150–200 hours for the SS and 180–200 hours to the RX 550 Plus.<ref name="KitplanesDec2007" /><ref name="Cliche" />

All Beaver wings are [[Swept wing|swept-back]] and have elliptical tips. The ''Plus'' wing differs from the earlier Beaver wings in that it replaces the internal drag wires with tubes and uses many more ribs to maintain a better airfoil shape, at the cost of additional weight and complexity, but does perform even better. The SS and RX 550 Plus wings have 3/4 span [[ailerons]]. All models have conventional three-axis controls.<ref name="Cliche" />

The landing gear is of [[tricycle gear|tricycle]] configuration. Earlier models did not have a steerable nosewheel since the nose wheel load weight was very light and could be used a little like a tail dragger, but the SS and RX 550 Plus include this feature. Most models have independent mechanical or hydraulic brakes.<ref name="Cliche" />

The cockpit pod enclosure is made of [[fiberglass]] and incorporates a windshield.<ref name="Cliche" />

==Operational history== The Beaver has proven very popular in service, both with flight schools and private owners, due to its ruggedness and pleasant handling characteristics. ASAP owner Brent Holomis says that "The RX-550 is often used as a trainer because it's so easy to fly."<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="Johnson" />

The early single seat RX-28 suffered from a problem of main tube cracking in operational service, due to the close proximity of the muffler heating the tube. This was later resolved by relocating the muffler.<ref name="Cliche" />

==Variants== ;Beaver RX-28 :Single-seat, powered by a {{convert|28|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 277]], produced by Spectrum Aircraft.<ref name="Cliche" /> ;Beaver RX-35 :Single-seat, powered by a {{convert|35|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 377]], produced by Spectrum Aircraft.<ref name="Cliche" /> ;Beaver RX-550 :Two-seat, powered by a {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 503]], produced by Spectrum Aircraft.<ref name="Cliche" /> ;Beaver RX-550 Plus :Two-seat, powered by a {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 503]] or {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 582]], produced by ASAP.<ref name="Cliche" /> ;Beaver RX-650 :Two-seat, powered by a {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 503]] or {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 582]], produced by Spectrum Aircraft and Beaver RX Enterprises.<ref name="Cliche" /> ;[[Freedom Lite SS-11 Skywatch|SS-11 Skywatch]] :Two-seat, powered by a {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 503]] or {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 582]], produced by Freedom Lite and Legend Lite.<ref name="Cliche" /> ;Beaver SS :Single-seat, powered by a {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 447]], {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 503]] or {{convert|45|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Zanzottera MZ 201]], produced by ASAP.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="ASAPPrice">{{cite web|url = http://www.ultralight.ca/beaver_pricelists.htm|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050404143511/http://www.ultralight.ca/beaver_pricelists.htm|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2005-04-04|title = Beaver Pricelists|access-date = 2009-08-05|last = Aircraft Sales and Parts|date = August 2009}}</ref><ref name="WDLA11">Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011–12'', page 89. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X</ref>

==Aircraft on display== [[File:Spectrum Beaver RX550 C-IGOW 01.JPG|thumb|right|Carl Hiebert's Beaver RX 550 on display in the [[Canada Aviation and Space Museum]].]] Spectrum Beaver RX 550 C-IGOW is on display in the storage wing of the [[Canada Aviation and Space Museum]]. In 1986 this aircraft was flown {{convert|5000|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} from [[Halifax Regional Municipality|Halifax]] to land at [[Expo '86]] in [[Vancouver]] by [[Carl Hiebert]], a Canadian [[paraplegic]] pilot, to raise awareness of disability issues. The story of the journey was published as a book by Hiebert under the title ''Gift of Wings''.<ref name="CAM">{{cite web|url = http://www.aviation.technomuses.ca/collections/artifacts/aircraft/SpectrumBeaverRX550/|title = Spectrum Beaver RX550|access-date = 2009-08-07|last = [[Canada Aviation Museum]]|date = n.d.}}</ref><ref name="GOW">{{cite web|url = http://www.giftofwings.ca/lobby.htm|title = Gift of Wings|access-date = 2009-08-07|last = Hiebert|first = Carl|year = 2009}}</ref>

==Specifications (Beaver SS) ==

{{Aircraft specs |prime units? = imp |ref=Cliche<ref name="Cliche" /> & ASAP<ref name="SSspecs" /> |crew=one |length ft= 17 |length in= 8 |length m=5.39 |span ft=31 |span in=0 |span m=9.46 |wing area sqft= 138 |wing area sqm= 12.8 |empty weight lb= 340 |empty weight kg= 154 |capacity= 310 lb (141 kg) useful load |max takeoff weight lb= 650 |max takeoff weight kg= 295 |eng1 name=[[Rotax 447]] |eng1 number=1 |eng1 hp= 40 |eng1 kw=30 |prop dia ft=5 |prop dia m= 1.53 |max speed mph= 85 |max speed kmh=138 |cruise speed mph= 67 |cruise speed kmh=109 |stall speed mph= 30 |stall speed kmh= 49 |never exceed speed mph= 90 |never exceed speed kmh= 146 |range mi= 140 |range km=227 |ceiling ft= 12,000 |ceiling m= 3660 |climb rate ftmin= 800 |climb rate ms= 4.1 |wing loading lb/sqft=4.71 |wing loading kg/m2=23.05 |power/mass=16.25 lb/hp (0.102 kW/kg) }}

==See also== {{aircontent |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= * [[Aero-Works Aerolite 103]] * [[Beaujon Enduro]] * [[Birdman Chinook]] * [[CGS Hawk]] * [[Freebird II]] * [[Greenwood Witch]] * [[Joplin Tundra]] * [[Lockwood Drifter]] * [[Quad City Challenger]] * [[Skyfly S-34 Skystar]] * [[Ultraflight Lazair]] * [[Wings of Freedom Flitplane]] * [[Zenair Zipper]] |lists=

}}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{Official website|http://www.aeroplanemanufactory.com/}}

[[Category:1980s Canadian ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:Homebuilt aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1983]] [[Category:High-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear]] [[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]