Hovey Delta Bird
{{Short description|American ultralight airplane}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Delta Bird | image=File:Darwin 1921.jpg | caption=Hovey Delta Bird at the Darwin Aviation Museum }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Ultralight aircraft | national origin=United States | manufacturer= | designer=Bob Hovey | first flight= | introduced=1982 | retired= | status=Production completed | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= | developed from= Hovey Whing Ding II | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Hovey Delta Bird is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Bob Hovey in 1982 and supplied as plans for amateur construction.Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page E-12 Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}{{Cite web|url = http://virtualultralightmuseum.com/d.htm#deltabird |title = Delta Bird|accessdate = 7 November 2011|last = Virtual Ultralight Museum|date = n.d.}}
Design and development
The aircraft 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|218|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. It features a biplane wing configuration, a single-seat, open cockpit, conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.
The aircraft is made from pop-riveted and gusseted aluminum tubing, with the wings and tail surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric covering. Its biplane wing has a top span of {{convert|24|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}, a bottom span of {{convert|20.3|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}, employs cabane struts and one set of interplane struts. The controls are conventional three-axis, with full-span ailerons on the top wing. The landing gear is bungee suspended and includes main wheel brakes and tailwheel steering. Common engines used include the {{convert|30|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Cuyuna 430R in the Delta Bird and the {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Kawasaki 440 in the Delta Hawk.
Variants
Specifications (Delta Bird)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Cliche and Virtual Ultralight Museum
|prime units?=imp
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|crew=one
|capacity=
|length m=
|length ft=15
|length in=0
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|upper span ft=24
|upper span in=0
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|lower span m=
|lower span ft=20
|lower span in=4
|lower span note=
|height m=
|height ft=6
|height in=0
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=160
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=218
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=415
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|5|u.s.gal}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Cuyuna 430R
|eng1 type=
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=30
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|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=60
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=45
|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=80
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=50
|range nmi=
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|endurance=
|ceiling m=
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|g limits=+3.5/-3.5
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=6:1
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=400
|climb rate note=
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|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=2.6
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References
{{Commons category}}
{{reflist}}
{{Bob Hovey aircraft}}