Quicksilver Sprint with Hirth 50 HP engine, legal part 103 ultralight aircraft!

Ultralight Aircraft Magazine - Quicksilver Sprint with Hirth 50 HP engine, legal part 103 ultralight aircraft! A number of problems face manufacturers trying to build a Part 103 ultralight aircraft. That is an aircraft that meets the definition of Part 103 that can be flown without a medical, without registration or a license in the U.S.

One of those is that the manufacturer Rotax, that supplied roughly 80% of the engines used on ultralight aircraft no longer produces a lightweight two stroke engine. Gone are they Rotax 277, 377, 447 and 503 leaving only the Rotax 582, 65 HP, liquid cooled two stroke.

This has forced manufacturers to look for alternative power plants, or in some cases go back 30 years to engines that are still available like the Kawaski 340 and 440. But one manufacturer that has stepped up to the plate, or rather one distributor of engines that has stepped up to the plate to help fill the void is that of Recreational Power distributor of the Hirth line of engines in the U.S.

For years Matt Dandar owner of Rec Power has been providing sales, service and warranty for the Hirth line of aircraft engines. He has also had his finger on the pulse of the industry and seems to always be one step ahead of the game when it comes to filling "niche markets."

Among this "niche markets" has been a motor mount system to allow the Hirth line of engines to be mounted on the Challenger line of aircraft, another a belt drive system for Hirth engines. Matt has also worked closely with Hirth to come out with a single cylinder 28 hp two stroke engine with electric start and a charging system for part 103 ultralights. In fact if you check out most of the major producers of true legal ultralight aircraft you will more than likely see the F 33 either pulling or pushing it along.

But some manufacturers need more power to accommodate larger pilots or to allow their ultralight aircraft to fly on floats. One of those dealers/distributors was Andy Humphrey. Andy has worked closely with Matt over the years as a Challenger dealer equipping his aircraft with Hirth engines.

This year Andy became a Quicksilver dealer and that allowed him to work with Matt on a project that Matt and Quicksilver have been working on for several years, the installation of a two cylinder, 50 HP, F 23 twin cylinder opposed aircraft engine, on a single seat Quicksilver Sprint part 103 legal ultralight.

With the ability to mount the F23, with a weight of only 71 lbs., on the Sprint it makes a part 103 legal ultralight WITHOUT having to use the parachute allowance. To get the engine to work required the removal of the cylinders and them 180 degrees. Which also requires the pistons to be turned.

This allows the carbs to be located on the top of the engine, and puts the exhausts down under the engine.
With that done Andy them went about shortening the root tube on the Sprint and building a motor mount. He was aided by knowledge he obtained during the installation of the same engine on a Kolb Firefly.

Andy indicates that he "is very excited about this engine installation, as it now allows the sale of a legal part 103 ultralight with an engine designed for aircraft application, with dual ignition and a reduction drive". 

Which means owners now have warranty and parts and service are available.

One thing I forgot to mention is that this all started to come together about six weeks before the show and that Andy had to travel to Louisiana to pick up the plane and then get together with Matt to get things rolling!

Well did it work? You Betcha!!! Watching Andy take off at the show his climb rate equaled that of the six cylinder UL powered Just Aircraft Super Stol. 

All this for a ready to fly aircraft that is going to sell for round $18,000.00. AND for the first time that I am aware of we now have a Light Sport Aircraft manufacturer who produces a legal part 103 ultralight aircraft AND has a two seat trainer that they can offer flight training in.

PowerPlant
Twin Cylinder
Propeller
Length
Height
Wingspan
Wing area
Wing loading
Empty Weight 
Useful load 
Payload w/full fuel.
Max takeoff weight 
Fuel capacity 

Hirth F23
Two Cycle
66 in x 34 in
18 ft 1 in
8 ft 10 in
28 ft 0 in
156 sq ft
3.36 lb/sq ft
250 lbs
275 lbs
245 lbs
525 lb
5 U.S. Gallons

Ultralight Aircraft Magazine - Welcome to the Ultralight Aircraft News our goal is to cover as many aircraft expositions that host aircraft described as ultralight aircraft, light sport aircraft, experimental light sport aircraft, amateur built aircraft, ELSA or homebuilt aircraft that fit into the definition of ultralight aircraft in Canada or light sport aircraft, or experimental amateurbuilt light sport aircraft in the United States. 

These include three axis control aircraft, weight shift control aircraft, more commonly known as trikes, powered parachutes, helicopters, gyrocopters and powered para-gliders that meet the light sport or ultralight aircraft definition.

Airshows and aircraft expositions that we cover include, the Deland Sport Aviation Showcase, U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, Deland Sport Aviation Showcase, E.A.A.'s Sun N Fun, E.A.A.'s Airventure, the Midwest LSA Show, Copperstate, UPAC Convention and Aero Friedrichshafen in Germany. We try to regularly attend regional shows like the Arlington Fly-In, and Rocky Mountain Fly-In. 

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