Worldwide Ultralite Spitfire

{{Short description|American ultralight aircraft}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use American English|date=January 2022}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Spitfire | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Ultralight aircraft]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[United States]] | manufacturer = [[Worldwide Ultralite]]<br>Don Ecker<br>[[Air Magic Ultralights]] | design_group = | designer = Fred Bell | builder = | issuer = | status = Production completed | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 514 (Spitfire, 1998)<ref name="Aerocrafter" /><br />68 (Spitfire II, 1998)<ref name="Aerocrafter" /> | 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 = [[Bell Sidewinder]]<br />[[Phantom X1]] | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''Worldwide Ultralite Spitfire''' is an American [[ultralight aircraft]] that was designed by Fred Bell and manufactured by [[Worldwide Ultralite Industries]] and later by Don Ecker and [[Air Magic Ultralights]] of [[Houston, Texas]]. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for [[Homebuilt aircraft|amateur construction]].<ref name="Aerocrafter">Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition'', page 103. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}</ref><ref name="Cliche">Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page E-33 and 37. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref><ref name="VUM">{{Cite web|url = http://virtualultralightmuseum.com/so.htm#spitfire|title = Spitfire|accessdate = 12 December 2011|last = Virtual Ultralight Museum|date = n.d.}}</ref>

==Design and development== The Spitfire is a derivative of the [[Phantom X1]] that was created by former [[Phantom Aeronautics]] employee Fred Bell, who also designed the [[Bell Sidewinder]]. The Spitfire was designed to comply with the US [[FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles]] rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of {{convert|254|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. The aircraft has a standard empty weight of {{convert|253|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. It features a [[strut-braced]] [[high-wing]], a single-seat, open cockpit, [[tricycle landing gear]] and a single engine in [[tractor configuration]].<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="VUM" />

The aircraft is made from bolted-together [[aluminum]] tubing, with the flying surfaces covered in [[Dacron]] sailcloth. The Spitfire differs from the X1 in having [[Flap (aircraft)|flaps]], struts in place of [[Flying wires|cable-bracing]], a [[centre stick]] and a cog-belt reduction drive. Its {{convert|30|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing is supported by "V" struts and [[jury strut]]s. The pilot is accommodated on an open seat, partially enclosed by a [[fibreglass]] [[Aircraft fairing|fairing]] with a windshield. The standard engine initially provided was the [[Kawasaki 440]] [[snowmobile]] powerplant of {{convert|36|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="VUM" />

The design pushes the empty weight limits set by FAR 103 and thus has to be built carefully and cannot be fitted with options if it is to be legally flown in this category.<ref name="Cliche" />

A two-seat version in [[side-by-side configuration]] was also produced by Air Magic Ultralights. Powered by a [[Rotax 503]] [[two-stroke]] powerplant of {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}, it has a gross weight of {{convert|800|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Aerocrafter" />

==Variants== ;Spitfire :Single seat version powered by a {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 447]] engine. It was offered in ''Ultralight'' and ''Super Sport'' configurations, with the latter having a larger engine, more instruments, sprung steel landing gear, an auxiliary fuel tank and [[wheel pants]].<ref name="Aerocrafter" /> ;Spitfire II :Two seats in [[side-by-side configuration]] version powered by a {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 503]] engine. It was offered in an ''Elite'' configuration that included bucket seats, a larger engine and a {{convert|10|u.s.gal}} fuel tank.<ref name="Aerocrafter" />

==Specifications (Spitfire) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Cliche and the Virtual Ultralight Museum<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="VUM" /> |prime units?=imp  |genhide=

|crew=one |capacity= |length m= |length ft=18 |length in=4 |length note= |span m= |span ft=30 |span in=0 |span note= |height m= |height ft=7 |height in=8 |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=152 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=253 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=550 |gross weight note= |fuel capacity={{convert|5|u.s.gal}} |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Kawasaki 440]] |eng1 type=twin cylinder, [[two-stroke]] snowmobile engine, with a cog-belt reduction drive |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=36

|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=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= |ceiling note= |g limits=+9/-6 |roll rate= |glide ratio=8:1 |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=600 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft=3.61 |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==See also== {{aircontent  |see also= |related= *[[Bell Sidewinder]] |similar aircraft= |lists= }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://virtualultralightmuseum.com/spitfire10000cc.jpg Photo of Spitfire in flight] {{Worldwide Ultralite aircraft}}

[[Category:1980s United States ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:Homebuilt aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] [[Category:Worldwide Ultralite aircraft]]