Lookout Mountain SkyCycle
{{Short description|American ultralight trike}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=SkyCycle | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Ultralight trike | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Lookout Mountain Flight Park | designer=Matt Taber | first flight= | introduced=1997 | retired= | status=Production completed | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=225 (2005) | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Lookout Mountain SkyCycle, also marketed as The Freedom Machine, is an American ultralight trike that was designed by Matt Taber, produced by Lookout Mountain Flight Park of Rising Fawn, Georgia and introduced in 1997. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction and also as plans.Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page C-25. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}{{Cite web|url = http://www.hanglide.com/news/?page_id=30|title = Matt Taber|accessdate = 25 January 2012|last = Lookout Mountain Flight Park|date = n.d.|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130125101436/http://www.hanglide.com/news/?page_id=30|archive-date = 25 January 2013|url-status = dead}}Downey, Julia: 2005 Trikes 'Chutes and Rotorcraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 22, Number 2, February 2005, page 48. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, pages 22-23. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
Design and development
The SkyCycle was designed to be a minimalist nanotrike, capable of using the builder's existing hang glider wing. 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|165|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. It features a cable-braced hang glider high-wing, weight-shift controls, a single-seat open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.
The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its double-surface Pulse 11 wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its {{convert|34|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame control bar. The standard engine supplied by the factory was the Zenoah G-25, {{convert|22|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}, single cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled aircraft engine
The SkyCycle was intended to be constructed by people who were already hang glider pilots and, in fact, the manufacturer is a large hang gliding school. By keeping the weight down to a minimum the designer envisioned that the builder could use his or her existing hang glider wing for the aircraft. The manufacturer also supplied the Pulse 11 wing for those builders who did not own a hang glider wing. In 2005 the complete aircraft sold for US$7995 with plans selling for US$75. A total of 225 examples had been completed and flown by February 2005.
The aircraft could be quickly dismantled for ground transportation or storage.
Specifications (Skycycle)
{{Aircraft specs
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|empty weight lb=165
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|gross weight lb=465
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|fuel capacity={{convert|2.5|u.s.gal}}
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|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Zenoah G-25
|eng1 type=single cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled aircraft engine
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|eng1 hp=22
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|max speed mph=75
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|cruise speed mph=40
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|stall speed mph=20
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|range km=
|range miles=120
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|climb rate ftmin=650
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See also
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Aircraft with the same name:
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References
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External links
- [https://archive.today/20130119015338/http://www.bydanjohnson.com/articleart/112_2.jpg Photo of SkyCycle]
Category:1990s United States ultralight aircraft