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Flylab Tucano
	Flylab Tucano V
Role	Ultralight aircraft
National origin	Italy
Manufacturer	Ferrari ULM; Flylab
Status	In production
Developed from	Chotia Weedhopper

The Flylab Tucano (English: Toucan) is an Italian ultralight aircraft, produced by Flylab, of Ischitella. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft. The aircraft was produced in the 1990s by Ferrari ULM of Castelbaldo.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Design and development

The Tucano is a derivative of the Chotia Weedhopper and was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight rules with the design goal of being a low-cost aircraft. It features a strut-braced parasol wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed or open cockpit, fixed tricycle landing gear or floats and a single engine in pusher configuration or on some models twin engines in centreline thrust arrangement.^[1]^[2]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its flying surfaces covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 10.17 m (33.4 ft) span wing has an area of 17 m² (180 sq ft) and is supported by V-struts and jury struts. There is a cabane strut that passes through the windshield and cockpit area. The aircraft is built around a central bent aluminum keel tube that runs from the cockpit to the tail. Controls are standard three-axis type. Standard engines available are the 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 and 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 two-stroke powerplants. The fuel tank is of plastic construction, mounted under the pusher engine. The Tucano V has a glide ratio of 11:1.^[1]^[2]

Variants

Tucano: Base model with Rotax 582 powerplant.^[1]^[2]^[4]
Tucano V: Improved model, with aerodynamic clean-ups and enclosed cockpit^[1]^[2]^[5]
Tucano HV: A Tucano V mounted on floats (hydro).^[1]^[6]
Tucano Delta3: Open cockpit model powered by a Rotax 503^[1]^[7]
Tucano HD3: Float-equipped model based on the Tucano Delta3, powered by a Rotax 503^[1]^[8]
Tucano HD3A: Amphibious float-equipped model based on the Tucano HD3, powered by a Rotax 503^[9]
Tucano Delta3 TW: Twin-engined (TW) version with Rotax 582 engines mounted in the nose and aft of the cockpit, based on the Tucano Delta3^[1]^[2]^[10]
Tucano Delta3 VTW: Twin-engined version with Rotax 582 engines mounted in the nose and aft of the cockpit, with the Tucano V aerodynamic and cockpit refinements^[1]^[11]
Tucano X2: Twin-engined version with Rotax 582 engines mounted in the nose and aft of the cockpit, produced in the 1990s by Ferrari ULM.^[3]

Specifications (Tucano V)

Data from Bayerl and Flylab^[1]^[5]

General characteristics

Crew: one
Capacity: one passenger
Length: 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in)
Wingspan: 10.17 m (33 ft 4 in)
Height: 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 16.99 m² (182.9 sq ft)
Empty weight: 225 kg (496 lb)
Gross weight: 450 kg (992 lb)
Fuel capacity: 76 litres (17 imp gal; 20 US gal)
Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 582 twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 48 kW (64 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 165 km/h (103 mph, 89 kn)
Cruise speed: 125 km/h (78 mph, 67 kn)
Stall speed: 52 km/h (32 mph, 28 kn)
Never exceed speed: 170 km/h (110 mph, 92 kn)
Maximum glide ratio: 11:1
Rate of climb: 5.5 m/s (1,080 ft/min)
Wing loading: 26.49 kg/m² (5.43 lb/sq ft)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 54. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 55. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
^ ^a ^b Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 158. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
^ "Tucano By Flylab". Flylab.it. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
^ ^a ^b "Tucano V By Flylab". Flylab.it. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
^ "Tucano HV By Flylab". Flylab.it. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
^ "Tucano Delta3 By Flylab". Flylab.it. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
^ "Tucano HD3 By Flylab". Flylab.it. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
^ "Tucano HD3A By Flylab". Flylab.it. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
^ "Tucano Delta3 TW By Flylab". Flylab.it. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
^ "Tucano Delta3 VTW By Flylab". Flylab.it. Retrieved 5 July 2012.