Wood Sky Pup

{{Short description|American single-seat ultralight aircraft}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Use American English|date=July 2021}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Wood Sky Pup | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Ultralight aircraft]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[United States]] | manufacturer = | design_group = | designer = Stephen K. Wood | builder = | issuer = | status = Plans available | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 350 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = 1982-present | introduction = 1982 | retired = | first_flight = 1980 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''Wood Sky Pup''' is an American single-seat, [[high wing]], [[cantilever]], single engine, [[conventional landing gear]] [[ultralight aircraft]] that was designed by Stephen K. Wood<ref name="Brochure">Wood, Stephen: ''At Last - Sky Pup (Original Color Brochure)'', page 1. Sport Flight Engineering, Inc., 1983.</ref> of [[Whitewater, Colorado]] for [[homebuilt aircraft|amateur construction]].<ref name="Cliche">Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page B-54. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref><ref name="BYOU">{{Cite web|url = http://buildyourownultralight.com/skypup.html|title = The Sky Pup|accessdate = 13 January 2011|last = Build Your Own Ultralight |date = n.d. |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20130905005018/http://buildyourownultralight.com/skypup.html |archivedate = 5 September 2013}}</ref><ref name="spaces">{{Cite web|url = http://skypup.wikispaces.com/|title = Sky Pup|accessdate = 13 January 2011|last = skypup.wikispaces |date=January 2009 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110109044715/http://skypup.wikispaces.com/ |archivedate = 9 January 2011}}</ref><ref name="KitplanesJan2001">Downey, Julia: ''2001 Plans Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 18, Number 1, January 2001, page 31. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. {{ISSN|0891-1851}}</ref><ref name="KitplanesJan2002">Downey, Julia: ''2002 Plans Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 19, Number 1, January 2002, page 31. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. {{ISSN|0891-1851}}</ref><ref name="KitplanesJan2003">Downey, Julia: ''2003 Plans Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 20, Number 1, January 2003, page 30. Primedia Publications. {{ISSN|0891-1851}}</ref>

==Design and development== Introduced in 1982, the Sky Pup is a single seater designed as an [[FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles]] compliant aircraft with an empty weight within that category's {{convert|254|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} empty weight limit. The aircraft was intended to require the minimum financial investment and the designer intended that the [[airframe]] would be able to be completed for US$1000 using locally available materials. Cliche reported in 2001 that Sky Pups had been completed for US$2000, including the engine.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="BYOU" /> Its shape has been described as imitating the 1930s [[Aeronca C-2]] "flying bathtub".

The [[airframe]] is constructed from [[Douglas fir]] and [[styrofoam]], all covered in [[Dacron]] or [[polyester]] fabric. The wing is a three-piece design, allowing quick disassembly for transport or storage. The landing gear suspension is made from [[maple]] wood. The Sky Pup can be built with an open cockpit or fully enclosed, allowing flying in cooler weather. The Sky Pup is available as plans only. The power range specified is {{convert|18|to|28|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}, with the largest engine specified the {{convert|28|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 277]]. The {{convert|20|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[2si 215]], {{convert|28|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Hirth F-33]] and {{convert|22|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Zenoah G-25]] have also been used.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="BYOU" /><ref name="spaces"/><ref name="spacesspecs">{{Cite web|url = http://skypup.wikispaces.com/Specifications|title = Sky Pup Specifications |accessdate = 13 January 2011|last = skypup.wikispaces|date=July 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110111182105/http://skypup.wikispaces.com/Specifications |archivedate = 11 January 2011}}</ref>

The design was professionally engineered and incorporates a very clean cantilever wing that results in a 12:1 glide ratio. The control system is two-axis, using only elevator and rudder controls, roll being introduced by rudder via a generous [[Dihedral (aircraft)|dihedral]] angle. The elevator is stick-controlled, while the rudder is controlled via conventional aircraft pedals. The aircraft is [[Stall (flight)|stall]] and [[Stall (flight)|spin]] proof. Reported construction times are 450–600 hours.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="BYOU" />

Plans were initially sold direct by the designer and, in the early 2000s, by the [[Vintage Ultra and Lightplane Association]]. Later the designer's son marketed the plans and this is the current source.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="BYOU" /><ref name="KitplanesJan2001" /><ref name="KitplanesJan2002" /><ref name="KitplanesJan2003" />

== Specifications (Sky Pup) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Brochure, Cliche, and Kitplanes<ref name="Brochure" /><ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="KitplanesJan2001" /><ref name="KitplanesJan2002" /><ref name="KitplanesJan2003" /> |prime units?=imp  |genhide=

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |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=26 |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph=69 |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles=150 |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=450 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |lift to drag=12:1 |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==See also== {{aircontent  |see also= |related= *[[Aeronca C-2]] (similar configuration and appearance, though a half-century earlier) | |similar aircraft= *[[Avid Champion]] *[[Dart Skycycle]] *[[Hipp's Superbirds J-3 Kitten]] *[[Preceptor N3 Pup]] *[[Belite Ultra Cub]] *[[Ultravia Pelican]] *[[Rocky Mountain Wings Ridge Runner]] *[[Anglin J6 Karatoo]] *[[Norman Aviation J6 Karatoo]] *[[Team Mini-Max Hi-MAX]] *[[Fisher FP-202 Koala]] *[[Light Miniature Aircraft LM-1]]

|lists= }}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110109044715/http://skypup.wikispaces.com/file/view/IM001027.JPG/34774157/IM001027.JPG Photo of a Sky Pup] * [https://machnone.com/con2.html Construction of a Skypup]

[[Category:1980s United States ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] [[Category:High-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1980]] [[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]]