UFM Easy Riser

{{Short description|American ultralight aircraft and glider}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use American English|date=January 2022}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = UFM Easy Riser | logo = | logo_size = | image = UFM Easy Riser.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Hang glider]] & [[Ultralight aircraft]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[United States]] | manufacturer = [[Ultralight Flying Machines]] | design_group = | designer = [[Larry Mauro]] & [[John Moody (pilot)|John Moody]] | builder = | issuer = | status = In limited production (hang glider version, 2002) | 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 = 1975 (powered ultralight) | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = [[Mauro Solar Riser]]<br />[[Pterodactyl Light Flyer]] | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''UFM Easy Riser''' is an American swept wing [[biplane]] [[hang glider]] that was first powered in 1975, becoming the first modern [[ultralight aircraft]]. The Easy Riser was still in production as an unpowered glider in 2002 by [[Ultralight Flying Machines]].<ref name="Cliche">Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page E-14. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref><ref name="EAA1">{{Cite web|url = http://www.airventuremuseum.org/collection/aircraft/UFM%20Easy%20Riser.asp|title = UFM EASY RISER|access-date = 6 March 2011|last = [[Experimental Aircraft Association]]|year = 2011}}</ref><ref name="EAA2">{{Cite web|url = http://airventure.aviation.museum/collection/aircraft/UFM-App%20Easy%20Riser.asp|title = UFM-APP EASY RISER|access-date = 6 March 2011|last = [[Experimental Aircraft Association]]|year = 2011|archive-date = January 6, 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110106183931/http://airventure.aviation.museum/collection/aircraft/UFM-App%20Easy%20Riser.asp|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref name="Moody">{{Cite web|url = http://www.pioneerflyer.com/Easyriser.html|title = CURRENT EASYRISER INFO |access-date = 6 March 2011|last = Moody|first = John|year = 2002}}</ref>

==Design and development== The Easy Riser was developed by [[Larry Mauro]] from the earlier [[Kiceniuk Icarus II]] biplane hang glider. An engine was installed by [[John Moody (pilot)|John Moody]] in 1975 so the glider could be launched from flat terrain.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="SoaringAug74">Rogers, Bennett: ''1974 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine'', page 99. Soaring Society of America, August 1974. USPS 499-920</ref>

Early powered versions consisted simply of a motor added to the foot-launched hang glider version with control by a combination of weight shift for pitch and tip rudders for roll and yaw, with the tip rudders used together as [[Air brake (aircraft)|air brake]]s. Because many pilots could not run fast enough to achieve take-off, wheeled [[tricycle gear]] was added. The aircraft exhibited poor pitch stability, so a [[horizontal stabilizer]] and [[Elevator (aircraft)|elevator]] were added. Finally, on later versions, the tip rudders were replaced with a tail-mounted rudder.<ref name="Cliche" />

The Easy Riser is constructed with an [[aluminium]] structure and stamped ribs, covered in doped [[aircraft fabric covering]], [[Mylar]] or other coverings. The pilot sits on a fabric sling seat. Engines used include the {{convert|11|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[McCulloch MAC-101]], {{convert|15|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Hirth F-36]] and [[Solo 210]].<ref name="Cliche" />

Easy Risers were produced in large numbers until the ultralight market downturn of the early 1980s when the type was taken out of production. Later, the unpowered glider version was put back into limited production.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="Moody" />

In 1979, Larry Mauro installed [[solar cells]] and an electric motor on a stock Easy Riser and the resulting [[Mauro Solar Riser]] become the first solar powered aircraft to carry a person aloft.<ref name="EAAMuseum">{{cite web|url = http://www.airventuremuseum.org/collection/aircraft/UFM-Mauro%20Solar%20Riser.asp|title = UFM/MAURO SOLAR RISER|access-date = 6 March 2011|last = [[Experimental Aircraft Association]]|year = 2011}}</ref><ref name="astroflight">{{cite web|url = http://www.astroflight.com/pdfs/SolarHistory.pdf|title = AIAA paper 84-1429|access-date = 6 March 2011|last = AIAA/SAE/ASME 20th Joint Propulsion Conference|year = 1984|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110707180738/http://www.astroflight.com/pdfs/SolarHistory.pdf|archive-date = 7 July 2011}}</ref>

==Aircraft on display== [[File:UFM Easy Riser (9-16-2023).jpg|thumb|Easy Rider ultralight at the [[Iowa Aviation Museum]]. This aircraft was modified with a [[Canard (aeronautics)|canard]].]] *[[Canadian Air & Space Museum]] - Easy Riser used by [[Bill Lishman]] in projects to teach birds to migrate<ref name="EasyRiserUltralight">{{cite web|url = http://www.casmuseum.org/easy_riser_ultralight.php|title = Easy Riser Ultralight|access-date = 12 September 2011|last = [[Canadian Air & Space Museum]]|year = 2011}}</ref> *[[EAA AirVenture Museum]] - two Easy Risers and the Solar Riser.<ref name="EAA1" /><ref name="EAA2" /> *[[Iowa Aviation Museum]] - one 1975 Easy Rider ultralight<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vintage Aircraft |url=https://flyingmuseum.com/vintage-aircraft/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606024933/https://flyingmuseum.com/vintage-aircraft/ |archive-date=June 6, 2023 |website=[[Iowa Aviation Museum]]}}</ref> *[[US Southwest Soaring Museum]] - Easy Riser<ref name="SWSMCollection">{{cite web|url = http://swsoaringmuseum.org/collection.htm|title = Sailplanes, Hang Gliders & Motor Gliders|access-date = 26 May 2011|last = [[US Southwest Soaring Museum]]|year = 2010|archive-date = November 20, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221120055021/http://swsoaringmuseum.org/collection.htm|url-status = dead}}</ref>

==Specifications (Easy Riser ultralight) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=EAA<ref name="EAASpecs">{{Cite web|url = http://www.airventuremuseum.org/collection/aircraft/UFM%20Easy%20Riser%20Specifications.asp|title = UFM EASY RISER Specifications|access-date = 6 March 2011|last = [[Experimental Aircraft Association]]|year = 2011}}</ref> |prime units?=imp  |genhide=

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph=40 |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=25 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=20 |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=100 |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft=9000 |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=300 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft=1.88 |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==Notable appearances in media== {{Main|Aircraft in fiction#UFM Easy Riser}}

==See also== {{aircontent  |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= *[[Eipper Quicksilver]] *[[Pterodactyl Ascender]] |lists= }}

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.pioneerflyer.com/Easyriser.html}} *[http://airpigz.squarespace.com/storage/hi-res/Moody-Easy-Riser.jpg Photo of John Moody flying his Easy Rider]

[[Category:1970s United States ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:Biplanes]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1975]] [[Category:Tailless aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft]]