Birdman Atlas
| {{Infobox Aircraft Begin
| name=Atlas | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox Aircraft Type | type=Ultralight aircraft | national origin=Canada | manufacturer=Birdman Enterprises | designer=Bob Lovejoy | first flight= | introduced=1980Jones, Terry: Birdman WT-11 Chinook - A Cabin-Class "Ultra" Lightplane. Birdman Enterprises, 1984. | retired= | status=Production completed | primary user= | number built=more than 500Taylor, John WR, Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1987-88 page 544, Janes Publishing Limited. | developed from= Eipper Quicksilver | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Birdman Atlas is a single-seat, high wing, single engine in pusher configuration, ultralight aircraft that was based upon the Eipper Quicksilver design.Taylor, John WR: Janes All the Worlds Aircraft 1982-83 page 625-626, Janes Publishing Company, 1982. {{ISBN|0-7106-0748-2}}
Development
The Atlas was introduced to the marketplace in 1980. Production was curtailed in about 1983 as the company concentrated on producing the newer Birdman WT-11 Chinook instead.
The Atlas was a development of the Quicksilver and as such incorporated many of the Quicksilver's features, such as a 6061-T6 aluminum-framed, single-surface Dacron-covered, wire-braced high wing, with the ground wires suspended from a kingpost. The fuselage structure was also built from 6061-T6 aluminum tube.
The early Atlas XC variants used weight shift for control supplemented with a rudder, whereas the later 3-A versions (for 3-Axis) utilized a conventional control system with elevator and rudder, and spoilers for roll control.
Variants
;Atlas 215 XC
:Foot-launchable single place ultralight powered by a {{convert|20|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} 215 cc single cylinder Cuyuna 215 engine. Control system is weight shift, plus rudder. Landing gear includes a shimmy-damped, shock-absorbing tailwheel unit. Available in kit form.
;Atlas 250 XC
:Foot-launchable single place ultralight powered by a {{convert|25|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} 250 cc twin cylinder Rotax engine. Control system is weight shift, plus rudder. Landing gear includes a shimmy-damped, shock-absorbing tailwheel unit. Available in kit form.
;Atlas 215 3-A
:Non-foot-launchable single place ultralight powered by a {{convert|20|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} 215 cc single cylinder Cuyuna 215 engine. Conventional three-axis control system utilizing spoilers for roll-control. Seat is adjustable fore and aft for balance. Due to company concerns about rigging requirements it was only supplied as a completed aircraft.
;Atlas 250 3-A
:Non-foot-launchable single place ultralight powered by a {{convert|25|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} 250 cc twin cylinder Rotax engine. Conventional three-axis control system utilizing spoilers for roll-control. Due to company concerns about rigging requirements it was only supplied as a completed aircraft.
Specifications (Atlas 215 3-A)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Janes All the Worlds Aircraft 1982-83
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|aspect ratio=6.4
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|empty weight lb=208
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|fuel capacity=2.8 US gallons (13 litres)
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|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Cuyuna 215
|eng1 type=two stroke snowmobile engine
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|prop blade number=2
|prop name=pusher propeller
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|max speed mph=46
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|cruise speed mph=41
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|range miles=85
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|endurance=3 hours 6 minutes
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|climb rate ftmin=350
|climb rate note=at 2400 feet (732 m) with 150 lb (68 kg) pilot
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|wing loading lb/sqft=3.1
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See also
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