The Free Bird line of
aircraft have been in production since 1992, and have been produced
by Free Bird Innovations in Detroit Lakes Minnesota for since 2003.
This is the first year that they have had they planes on display at
Sun N Fun. Free Bird manufacturers two
different aircraft, in several configurations. The Lite Sport
Classic is a two place side by side seating light sport aircraft.
The Sportlite 103 which is available in both a single place and two
place tandem seating arrangement.
In the a two place configuration the planes can be
powered by the Rotax 503, Rotax 582, or the twin cylinder Hirth
engines. In a single place they are powered by the Rotax 447 or the
smaller Hirth twin cylinder engines.
The two place craft come factory built or as kits
taking about 150 hours to build. The kits are all tube and fabric,
using bolt and rivet together construction. Covering material is
either Ceconite or Dacron.
The single place units are available in kit or
factory built, with plans also available for those wanting to build
from scratch.
All factory supplied parts are produced on C & C
equipment and come pre-bent, and drilled. The factory has produced a
comprehensive CD with all the parts listed, and described with the
customer having the ability to zoom in and out for greater detail.
The Lite Sport Classic features standard three
axis control, side by side seating using a center mounted stick and
dual throttles and rudder pedals, with a steerable nosewheel.
The Lite Sport Ultra again features standard three
axis controls. It is available in a single place version, or a
longer fuselage version two place. As a single place powered by the
Rotax 447 the Lite Sport Ultra is a legal part 103 ultralight
aircraft.
The kit is available as a raw materials kit in
which you do all the cutting, drilling and bending yourself, or as a
quick build kit where you bolt the craft together and install your
sail covering.
The factory reports that approximately 300
aircraft are currently flying. |