The Carlson replica of the 1945 Piper Skycycle.
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The Carlson Skycycle
From its very beginning, the Skycycle with its impish cowl and flowing curved lines has endeared itself in the imagination and dreams of sport pilots.
Why has this diminutive "class act" succeeded in capturing the hearts and minds of pilots? Why has its legacy survived in a love affair over the last 50 years? Could it be the perceived promise of returned affection in the form of responsive exhilarating performance? Perhaps an identity of friendship, always ready to support and return your love of just watching the earth's never ending beauty below? Or could it be just an unidentifiable, allusive attraction?
The Skycycle, now replicated very closely to the original in outward profile, shares a place in history. It now proudly flies as its original designers envisioned, and the love affair now rekindles anew.
Original pilot reports from those who test flew the first Skycycle were obtained. Our test flights show similar results to those documented in 1945. All the test pilots, without exception, found the Skycycle responsive, fast, and a fun airplane to fly.
The new Skycycle frame and wing have been engineered and scrutinized for maximum strength and performance without loosing aesthetic appeal. The production kit will be reinforced fiberglass fuselage and fillets. The wing has a developed center section with easily removable outer panels allowing transport within road width limits. The gear remains intact with the fuselage for ease of moveability. The original wing design divided the wing at the center of the fuselage. Once the wings were removed, the fuselage was "ground bound."
The original Skycycle was intended to be an inexpensive, affordable airplane appealing to returning veterans of World War II. The marketing program called for a plastic airframe to sell for under $1000.00 Sisal fiber soaked and baked in varnish was the assigned material for the cockpit area. This airframe was created from a disposable fuel tank from a WWII Corsair aircraft.
Our Test evaluations will retain the wing in its current configuration, with its leading and trailing edge tapered in platform and also in thickness. The tail section may be increased in area, as was done on the original, to accommodate slightly higher performance engines. The lines and profiles of the Skycycle will remain the same.
Simplicity in the building and assembly process will be a goal, and is feasible with today's material and fabrication techniques available. The category will remain experimental. Application for Part 23 certification or Primary Category status is not anticipated at this time. Our surveys indicate insufficient interest for the excessive cost increases required for certification.
Specifications**Present prototype - Subject to change |
Performance** Present prototype - Subject to change. |
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* Wing tanks may become an option |
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The following piece parts can be ordered factory fabricated to assist you in the assembly process. These processed items require time and/or tooling not readily available for some builders.
THE FOLLOWING PARTS CAN BE ORDERED PREFABRICATED:
Tapered leading edge, center section of fuselage (front, center & rear) - 36 total - All ribs completed, ready to assemble. Tapered rims on hole cutouts.
All material bent, ready to assemble for wings and center section.
Warren truss material cut and bent to size. Ready to assemble.
Bulkheads formed, cone rolled and joined with bulkheads riveted in place and finger load extensions riveted in ends.
Note: Details may differ slightly on current kits from those presented here. Photos provided indicate the typical kit construction involved.
NOTE: USA Dollars only. Due to the recent extreme escalation of basic steel and aluminum prices in the USA, these prices are no longer representative. Please call for current USA and foreign trade pricing.
| SKYCYCLE - FULL KIT PRICE - Includes all below except engine, finish dope, instruments and crating. With factory assist (2nd price.) | $13,900.00 $16,900.00 |
| OUTER WING KIT Leading edge nose riblets, spars (front and rear), leading edge skin, hinges, push-pull fittings, aileron riblets and skin, false spar, trailing edge, bracing, Warren truss ribs, wing tip bows, hardware, bellcrank | $3,250.00 |
| CENTER SECTION WING KIT Spar front and rear, front ribs, center ribs, rear ribs, push-pull to aileron control, aluminum skin, wing walk bracing, landing gear legs spring loaded, hardware. | $3,650.00 |
| FUSELAGE KIT Aluminum wing fillets, welded steel reinforced fiberglass cockpit, rudder, elevator, stabilizer, fin, engine mount, rudder pedals, tail wheel, tail cone, bulkheads, firewall, finger load extensions, instrument panel, hardware, bracing. | $4,250.00 |
| FINISHING TOUCHES KIT Molded Plexiglass canopy, air vent, welded steel canopy frame, frame arms, canopy track and slider, windshield, rivets and hardware, fabric, tapes, glue, wheels (main), tires, brakes, tail wheel, springs, cable, 10 gal. fuel tank, upper and lower cowling. | $3,365.00 |
| CRATING - Required for shipping | $375.00 |
| RIBS - Tapered leading edge and in platform, front and rear - 36 total - assembly ready | $ 910.00* |
| SPARS - TRUSS - OUTER WING PANELS All material sheared and bent - assembly ready. | $ 365.00* |
| SPARS - TRUSS - CENTER SECTION All material sheared and bent - assembly | $ 450.00* |
| ROLLED CONE - Bulkheads formed, cone rolled and joined with bulkheads with finger load extensions riveted in place with tail sections and tail wheel attach. | $ 1,275.00* |
| FUSELAGE GAS TANK (auxiliary) center section - 7 gallon | $ 315.00 |
| CUSTOM INTERIOR Ceconite only | $48.00 |
| CUSTOM INTERIOR - By Airtex | Request Quote |
| SKYCYCLE LOGO - VINYL - Right and left side - adhesive pressure sensitive Colors: yellow, gold, silver, blue, red, white | $ 30.00 |
| ENGINES - Information sent on request. | $ 59.60 |
| LIMITED EDITION SKYCYCLE HISTORICAL ALBUM - Contains historical photographs, stories, and personal histories, then and now, of the people who developed the original Skycycle. Copies of log books and test flights are included. Pictures never before published of the Skycycle in the "development" years incorporated. This is a valuable collection of material gathered from the last 50 years, | $39.95 |
* Upgrade price with full kit purchase
only.
© 2004 SKYTEK