Aerolite 103, part 103 legal ultralight aircraft, Ultalight Aircraft Magazine.

Ultralight Aircraft Magazine - The Aerolite 103 is a legal part 103 ultralight aircraft. It features all aluminum, bolt and rivet together construction, covered in dacron sail cloth. 

The Aerolite 103 is a tri-cycle gear, with a steerable nosewheel, in a pusher configuration. It uses a center mount stick with a yoke and a left hand throttle. The aircraft is equipped with electric flaps.

The Aerolite 103 is Fully Assembled, Factory Built Airframe, with your choice of colors, 

Empty weight: 235 lbs
MTOW: 550 lbs
Stall speed: 23 kts
Cruise speed: 48 kts
Never exceed speed VNE: 65 kts
Climb: 1000 ft/min
Glide ratio: 9:1
Takeoff distance (50ft obstacle): 300 ft
Landing distance (50´ft obstacle): 300 ft
Engine: 28 - 50 hp (rotax 503)
Fuel consumption: 2-4.5 gph

The Aero-Works Aerolite 103, designed by Terry Raber, in 1997, is an American single seat, high-wing, pusher configuration, part 103 legal ultralight aircraft,

Production of the aircraft ended in 2005 when the manufacturer went out of business. 

Several years ago the rights to the design were purchased by Dennis Carley of U Fly It in Deland Florida, and the Aerolite 103 is now available as a ready to fly, turn key, part 103 ultralight.

How Long to Build? 

At recent Oshkosh events, two “One-Week Wonders” were built using a kit from Zenith with power from Rotax or a Van’s RV-12 with another Rotax 9-series engine. 

These were amazing efforts as this video describes, but Dennis and his Aerolite thinks they can do it quicker — far quicker. Plus, a deal awaits some lucky buyer. 

“We have a ‘super offer’ in conjunction with AirVenture in Oshkosh next month,” announced Dennis in June 2019. “We will be assembling an Aerolite 103 during the show from a Quick Build Kit, and the aircraft is for sale (you can purchase it now, and pick it up at the end of the show or we can deliver it to you on the way back to Florida). 

Assembly will take place in the Workshop Tent — next to the Red Barn in the Ultralight Area, now known as the Fun Fly Zone — Tuesday through Saturday, during 9-11 AM and 2-4 PM. It will be completed and ready to taxi on Saturday afternoon.

I’ll do the calculation for you. In a mere 20 hours — during “banker’s hours,” some might say — an Aerolite 103 will go from kit to flyable aircraft. Bang! Compare that to the large gang of people who built the Zenith 750 or Van’s RV-12 at Oshkosh (although they were amateurs, not experts). 

The Oshkosh 2019 Super Wonder Aerolite 103 will be equipped with these options or upgrades: Hirth F33 engine Electric start Lightweight lithium battery Culver pProp EIS panel Hydraulic brakes 6-inch wheels and tires Final selling price: $17,900 (clarifying, that is $3,000 off the standard price of $20,900 for a Ready to Fly model with options listed). 

See all prices here for Aerolite 103 airframes, engine choices (several), and options. Is Hirth’s 28-horsepower F33 enough power for bigger pilots, say someone weighing 250 pounds? 

Dennis answered. “The F33 is good for Pilots up to about 220 pounds. At 220, the climb rate is about 600 feet per minute, and cruise speed about 55 miles an hour. For 250 pound pilots, we recommend the Hirth F23. 

We are also testing a couple other engine models currently, both of which should be very viable options for heavier pilots.” In case Hirth’s numbering system may confuse you, F33 is a super light single cylinder engine where F23 is a horizontally opposed twin cylinder model producing 50 horsepower. 

On this lightweight aircraft, even with a beefier pilot, an F23 Aerolite is going to perform exceedingly well.

http://www.fly103.com