M.Hardy. Gliders & Sailplanes of the world
Chotia Weedhopper
Designed by John Chotia and marketed in kit form by his company. Ultra Systems of PO Box 2253, Ogden, Utah, the Weedhopper is a powered hang glider envisaged as a low cost fun aeroplane that does away with the conventional ДальшеMore>>>
hang glider's need for a hill and wind, and the bruises, hard landings and other exertions that usually accompany this form of flying. The Weedhopper is Chotia's 23rd design, following 18 hang gliders of both rigid and flex-wing types, and five powered gliders of which several are foot-launched. It was designed from the start to take engine and landing gear loads, and has conventional rudder and elevator controls (but no ailerons) and proper seating for the pilot, who sits suspended under the wing just about on the cg position; this means that the design is not nearly so sensitive to pilot weight changes as other ultralights. The triangle undercarriage is mounted on the small platform-like structure on which the pilot sits, and has a steerable nosewheel. A rigid as distinct from flexible wing was chosen so as to retain control and stability in all attitudes, and the wings are of the 'roll up' kind, which can be dismantled easily for transport. The Weedhopper's structure is basically of aluminium tubing partially covered with dacron sailcloth, which simply bolts together for assembly, and is strong enough to lift a man weighing 200lb at an airfield elevation of 5,000ft. The engine is a 292cc Yamaha which produces 19hp at 5,000 rpm and is mounted just ahead of the wing leading edge on a tubular framework. An optional double-surfaced wing is available together with streamlined struts for pilots of over 190lb weight who wish to fly at airfield elevations of 4,000ft or more, especially on warm days. The Weedhopper can be stalled safely and does about 30 miles to a gallon of fuel. It is one of a growing number of powered hang gliders and what are termed 'minimum aeroplanes' - ultra-lights of low power and a very simple and basic type of airframe which, unlike motor gliders, are not intended for soaring flight with the engine stopped.
Cruising speed: 30 mph
Stalling speed: About 20 mph
Take-off run: 200 ft from a hard surface
Picture depicts the Weedhopper, one of America’s most popular microlights.
The two Weedhopper variants flying at Oshkosh were the Standard, with 28ft wing span, and the Soaring Wing Weedhopper, with 34ft wing span.
Weedhopper microlights are being mass-produced in kit form in Utah, USA. The company even produces a two-seat trainer version.
Sales of the single-place version passed the 1,000 mark in December 1980. Available in kit form, the single place Weedhopper sells in the USA at $3,395. The two-place version can be assembled in 50hr and costs $4,495.
Scheduled to go on March 1981 is the two-place Weedhopper. Powered by a Chotia 460-B engine the aircraft cruises at 30 m.p.h. and stalls at 20 m.p.h.
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