Spectrum Aircraft was a Canadian ultralight aircraft manufacturer that commenced operations in 1983 and went out of business in 1992. The company was known for its Beaver ultralight design, which remains in production by successor companies in the 21st century.[1][2][3]
Sprectrum's first product was the RX-28 Beaver, a single-seat, high wing ultralight aircraft powered by a 28 hp (21 kW) Rotax 277 single cylinder, two stroke powerplant. It was introduced in 1983 and gained quick popularity in Canada and the USA. The following year the RX-28 was joined in production by the RX-35, which used the 35 hp (26 kW) Rotax 377 engine.[1]
In 1986 the company started production of a two-seat version of the Beaver, designated the RX 550 and powered by a Rotax 503 50 hp (37 kW) engine. This model proved very popular as both a trainer and for private use and propelled the company into the forefront of ultralight aircraft production in North America.[1][2]
In 1991 the company introduced the RX-650 Beaver, intending to market it in the then-newly introduced Canadian Advanced Ultra-light Aeroplane (AULA) category that allows passenger carrying. The aircraft proved to have structural issues that caused Transport Canada to remove it from the AULA list. The company went out of business in 1992, before rectifying the deficiencies in the RX-650's design.[1][4]
Successorsedit
Beaver RX Enterprisesedit
The RX-550 design was acquired by a new company, Beaver RX Enterprises, who returned the aircraft to production. The company did not last long and soon went out of business.[1][2][4]
Aircraft Sales and Partsedit
In 1995 Aircraft Sales and Parts (ASAP) of Vernon, British Columbia purchased the RX-550 tooling and redesigned the aircraft. The new version was designated the RX 550 Plus and remains in production in kit form. By the end of 2007 a total of 2000 RX 550s had been produced by all manufacturers.[1][3][4]
In 2000 ASAP introduced a single seat version of the Beaver based on the RX-28, designated the Beaver SS (Single Seat). Powered by a 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447 engine and with a wing derived from the RX 550 Plus design, this aircraft remains in kit production.[1][3][5]
Freedom Lite & Legend Liteedit
In 1996 a new company, Freedom Lite, introduced a redesigned version of the Beaver RX 650. This improved RX 650 incorporated 186 changes over the previous version and was designated the SS-11 Skywatch and the company placed the aircraft in the Canadian AULA category. Freedom Lite soon went out of business and the design was acquired by Legend Lite of New Hamburg, Ontario. This new company also closed its doors in the early 2000s.[1][4]
^ abcJohnson, Dan (April 2000). "Canada's Popular Beaver Gets a New Lease on Life". Retrieved 5 August 2009.
^ abcDowney, Julia: 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 37. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
^ abcdTransport Canada (May 2009). "Listing of Models Eligible to be Registered as Advanced Ultra-Light Aeroplanes (AULA)". Retrieved 5 August 2009.
^Aircraft Sales and Parts (2002). "Beaver SS - General Specs". Retrieved 5 August 2009.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Spectrum Aircraft.
January 01, 1970
spectrum, aircraft, canadian, ultralight, aircraft, manufacturer, that, commenced, operations, 1983, went, business, 1992, company, known, beaver, ultralight, design, which, remains, production, successor, companies, 21st, century, industryaerospacefounded1983. Spectrum Aircraft was a Canadian ultralight aircraft manufacturer that commenced operations in 1983 and went out of business in 1992 The company was known for its Beaver ultralight design which remains in production by successor companies in the 21st century 1 2 3 Spectrum AircraftIndustryAerospaceFounded1983Defunct1992FateOut of businessSuccessorAircraft Sales and Parts ASAP HeadquartersSurrey British Columbia CanadaProductsSpectrum Beaver Contents 1 History 2 Successors 2 1 Beaver RX Enterprises 2 2 Aircraft Sales and Parts 2 3 Freedom Lite amp Legend Lite 3 Aircraft 4 References 5 External linksHistory edit nbsp Spectrum Beaver RX 550 Sprectrum s first product was the RX 28 Beaver a single seat high wing ultralight aircraft powered by a 28 hp 21 kW Rotax 277 single cylinder two stroke powerplant It was introduced in 1983 and gained quick popularity in Canada and the USA The following year the RX 28 was joined in production by the RX 35 which used the 35 hp 26 kW Rotax 377 engine 1 In 1986 the company started production of a two seat version of the Beaver designated the RX 550 and powered by a Rotax 503 50 hp 37 kW engine This model proved very popular as both a trainer and for private use and propelled the company into the forefront of ultralight aircraft production in North America 1 2 In 1991 the company introduced the RX 650 Beaver intending to market it in the then newly introduced Canadian Advanced Ultra light Aeroplane AULA category that allows passenger carrying The aircraft proved to have structural issues that caused Transport Canada to remove it from the AULA list The company went out of business in 1992 before rectifying the deficiencies in the RX 650 s design 1 4 Successors editBeaver RX Enterprises edit The RX 550 design was acquired by a new company Beaver RX Enterprises who returned the aircraft to production The company did not last long and soon went out of business 1 2 4 Aircraft Sales and Parts edit In 1995 Aircraft Sales and Parts ASAP of Vernon British Columbia purchased the RX 550 tooling and redesigned the aircraft The new version was designated the RX 550 Plus and remains in production in kit form By the end of 2007 a total of 2000 RX 550s had been produced by all manufacturers 1 3 4 In 2000 ASAP introduced a single seat version of the Beaver based on the RX 28 designated the Beaver SS Single Seat Powered by a 40 hp 30 kW Rotax 447 engine and with a wing derived from the RX 550 Plus design this aircraft remains in kit production 1 3 5 Freedom Lite amp Legend Lite edit In 1996 a new company Freedom Lite introduced a redesigned version of the Beaver RX 650 This improved RX 650 incorporated 186 changes over the previous version and was designated the SS 11 Skywatch and the company placed the aircraft in the Canadian AULA category Freedom Lite soon went out of business and the design was acquired by Legend Lite of New Hamburg Ontario This new company also closed its doors in the early 2000s 1 4 Aircraft editModel name First flight Number built Type Beaver RX 28 1983 Single seat ultralight aircraft Beaver RX 35 1984 Single seat ultralight aircraft Beaver RX 550 1986 Two seat ultralight aircraft Beaver RX 650 1991 Two seat ultralight aircraftReferences edit a b c d e f g h Cliche Andre Ultralight Aircraft Shopper s Guide 8th Edition pages B 9 B 70 B 103 amp E 6 Cybair Limited Publishing 2001 ISBN 0 9680628 1 4 a b c Johnson Dan April 2000 Canada s Popular Beaver Gets a New Lease on Life Retrieved 5 August 2009 a b c Downey Julia 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory Kitplanes Volume 24 Number 12 December 2007 page 37 Belvoir Publications ISSN 0891 1851 a b c d Transport Canada May 2009 Listing of Models Eligible to be Registered as Advanced Ultra Light Aeroplanes AULA Retrieved 5 August 2009 Aircraft Sales and Parts 2002 Beaver SS General Specs Retrieved 5 August 2009 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Spectrum Aircraft Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spectrum Aircraft amp oldid 1178577155, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
