Ultra-Efficient Products Invader
{{Short description|American ultralight aircraft}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Invader | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Ultralight aircraft | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Ultra-Efficient Products | designer=Nick Leighty and Rick Berstling | first flight= | introduced=1982 | retired= | status=Production completed | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Ultra-Efficient Products Invader is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Nick Leighty and Rick Berstling, produced by Ultra-Efficient Products and introduced in 1982.Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page E-19. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}{{Cite web|url = http://virtualultralightmuseum.com/ghi.htm#invader|title = Invader Mk III|accessdate = 20 November 2011|last = Virtual Ultralight Museum|date = n.d.}}
Design and development
The Invader 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|245|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. It features a cantilever mid-wing, pod-and-boom layout, a V-tail, a single-seat, open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.
The aircraft has unusual construction. The fuselage pod is made from gas tungsten arc welded aluminum tubing and composite, attached to a partially double-sleeved aluminum irrigation pipe. Its {{convert|31|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing is constructed from wood, with foam ribs and one third span ailerons. The V-tail is all-flying and is made from foam ribs glued to the aluminum tubular spar. The flying surfaces are covered in either Mylar or doped aircraft fabric covering. On early models the control system is two-axis, all controlled by the control stick, while later ones incorporate rudder pedals.
The standard powerplant supplied was a Yamaha engine of {{convert|14|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} which provides the Invader with a cruise speed of {{convert|40|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}, but limits the ceiling to {{convert|4000|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}. The very aerodynamically clean design produces a glide ratio of 14:1.
Operational history
Variants
Specifications (Invader Mk III)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Cliche and the Virtual Ultralight Museum
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|empty weight lb=245
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|gross weight lb=475
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|fuel capacity={{convert|2.5|u.s.gal}}
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|eng1 number=1
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|cruise speed mph=40
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|stall speed mph=20
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|range miles=100
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|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=4000
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|g limits=+4/-4
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|glide ratio=14:1
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|climb rate ftmin=500
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://virtualultralightmuseum.com/invader40cc.jpg Photo of an Invader Mk III]