# Worldwide Ultralite Spitfire

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American ultralight aircraft

Spitfire General information Type Ultralight aircraft National origin United States Manufacturer Worldwide Ultralite Don Ecker Air Magic Ultralights Designer Fred Bell Status Production completed Number built 514 (Spitfire, 1998)[1] 68 (Spitfire II, 1998)[1] History Developed from Bell Sidewinder Phantom X1

The **Worldwide Ultralite Spitfire** is an American [ultralight aircraft](/source/Ultralight_aircraft) that was designed by Fred Bell and manufactured by [Worldwide Ultralite Industries](/source/Worldwide_Ultralite_Industries) and later by Don Ecker and [Air Magic Ultralights](/source/Air_Magic_Ultralights) of [Houston, Texas](/source/Houston%2C_Texas). The aircraft was supplied as a kit for [amateur construction](/source/Homebuilt_aircraft).[1][2][3]

## Design and development

The Spitfire is a derivative of the [Phantom X1](/source/Phantom_X1) that was created by former [Phantom Aeronautics](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phantom_Aeronautics&action=edit&redlink=1) employee Fred Bell, who also designed the [Bell Sidewinder](/source/Bell_Sidewinder). The Spitfire was designed to comply with the US [FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles](/source/FAR_103_Ultralight_Vehicles) rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 253 lb (115 kg). It features a [strut-braced](/source/Strut-braced) [high-wing](/source/High-wing), a single-seat, open cockpit, [tricycle landing gear](/source/Tricycle_landing_gear) and a single engine in [tractor configuration](/source/Tractor_configuration).[2][3]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together [aluminum](/source/Aluminum) tubing, with the flying surfaces covered in [Dacron](/source/Dacron) sailcloth. The Spitfire differs from the X1 in having [flaps](/source/Flap_(aircraft)), struts in place of [cable-bracing](/source/Flying_wires), a [centre stick](/source/Centre_stick) and a cog-belt reduction drive. Its 30 ft (9.1 m) span wing is supported by "V" struts and [jury struts](/source/Jury_strut). The pilot is accommodated on an open seat, partially enclosed by a [fibreglass](/source/Fibreglass) [fairing](/source/Aircraft_fairing) with a windshield. The standard engine initially provided was the [Kawasaki 440](/source/Kawasaki_440) [snowmobile](/source/Snowmobile) powerplant of 36 hp (27 kW).[2][3]

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.[2]

A two-seat version in [side-by-side configuration](/source/Side-by-side_configuration) was also produced by Air Magic Ultralights. Powered by a [Rotax 503](/source/Rotax_503) [two-stroke](/source/Two-stroke) powerplant of 50 hp (37 kW), it has a gross weight of 800 lb (363 kg).[1]

## Variants

**Spitfire**
- Single seat version powered by a 40 hp (30 kW) [Rotax 447](/source/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](/source/Wheel_pants).[1]

**Spitfire II**
- Two seats in [side-by-side configuration](/source/Side-by-side_configuration) version powered by a 50 hp (37 kW) [Rotax 503](/source/Rotax_503) engine. It was offered in an *Elite* configuration that included bucket seats, a larger engine and a 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal) fuel tank.[1]

## Specifications (Spitfire)

*Data from* Cliche and the Virtual Ultralight Museum[2][3]

**General characteristics**

- **Crew:** one

- **Length:** 18 ft 4 in (5.59 m)

- **Wingspan:** 30 ft 0 in (9.14 m)

- **Height:** 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m)

- **Wing area:** 152 sq ft (14.1 m2)

- **Empty weight:** 253 lb (115 kg)

- **Gross weight:** 550 lb (249 kg)

- **Fuel capacity:** 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal)

- **Powerplant:** 1 × [Kawasaki 440](/source/Kawasaki_440) twin cylinder, [two-stroke](/source/Two-stroke) snowmobile engine, with a cog-belt reduction drive, 36 hp (27 kW)

**Performance**

- **Maximum speed:** 63 mph (101 km/h, 55 kn)

- **Cruise speed:** 55 mph (89 km/h, 48 kn)

- **Stall speed:** 20 mph (32 km/h, 17 kn)

- **Range:** 100 mi (160 km, 87 nmi)

- **g limits:** +9/-6

- **Maximum glide ratio:** 8:1

- **Rate of climb:** 600 ft/min (3.0 m/s)

- **Wing loading:** 3.61 lb/sq ft (17.6 kg/m2)

## See also

**Related development**

- [Bell Sidewinder](/source/Bell_Sidewinder)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-5) Purdy, Don: *AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition*, page 103. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9636409-4-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9636409-4-1)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Cliche_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Cliche_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Cliche_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Cliche_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Cliche_2-4) Cliche, Andre: *Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide* 8th Edition, page E-33 and 37. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9680628-1-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9680628-1-4)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-VUM_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-VUM_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-VUM_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-VUM_3-3) Virtual Ultralight Museum (n.d.). ["Spitfire"](http://virtualultralightmuseum.com/so.htm#spitfire). Retrieved December 12, 2011.

## External links

- [Photo of Spitfire in flight](http://virtualultralightmuseum.com/spitfire10000cc.jpg)

v t e Worldwide Ultralite aircraft Aircraft Clipper Skyraider S/S Spitfire

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Worldwide Ultralite Spitfire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worldwide_Ultralite_Spitfire) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worldwide_Ultralite_Spitfire?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.