The P&M PulsR (transl.Pulsar) is a British ultralight trike, designed by Bill Brooks and produced by P&M Aviation of Rochdale. The aircraft is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.[1]

PulsR
Role Ultralight trike
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer P&M Aviation
Designer Bill Brooks
Introduction 2011
Status In production (2018)
Produced 2015-present

The design was introduced publicly at the Flying Show in Birmingham in December 2011, where writer Demitri Delemarle reported that it "stole the show", due to its unusual semi-enclosed cockpit design.[1]

Design and development

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The PulsR was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, including the category's maximum gross weight of 472.5 kg (1,042 lb) with a ballistic parachute. The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 472.5 kg (1,042 lb) with a ballistic parachute and 450 kg (992 lb) without.[1]

The design was first shown in 2011 and remained in prototype-only form until 2015.[1]

The aircraft design features a strut-braced topless hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem semi-enclosed cockpit with a cockpit fairing and windshield, tricycle landing gear with main gear wheel pants and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1]

The aircraft fuselage is a monocoque design made from composite carbon fibre, with its double surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 9.26 m (30.4 ft) span wing is supported by struts and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar, which is routed through the open side window spaces in the semi-enclosed fairing. The powerplant is a four-cylinder, air and liquid-cooled, four-stroke, dual-ignition 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS engine.[1][2]

The aircraft has an empty weight of 251 kg (553 lb) and a gross weight of 472.5 kg (1,042 lb), giving a useful load of 222 kg (489 lb). With full fuel of 78 litres (17 imp gal; 21 US gal) the payload is 166 kg (366 lb).[1][2]

Operational history

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Writer Demitri Delemarle reports that the design "never fails to attract attention" wherever it is shown, due to its unusual aerodynamic cockpit design, which makes it much faster and gives a better glide ratio than other trikes.[1]

Specifications (PulsR)

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Data from Tacke and manufacturer[1][2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)
  • Wingspan: 9.26 m (30 ft 5 in)
  • Height: 2.82 m (9 ft 3 in)
  • Wing area: 13 m2 (140 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 251 kg (553 lb) with ballistic parachute fitted
  • Gross weight: 472.5 kg (1,042 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 78 litres (17 imp gal; 21 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912ULS four cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 75 kW (101 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed composite

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 169 km/h (105 mph, 91 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 153 km/h (95 mph, 83 kn)
  • Stall speed: 63 km/h (39 mph, 34 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 190 km/h (120 mph, 100 kn)
  • g limits: +6g/-3g (ultimate)
  • Maximum glide ratio: 12:1
  • Rate of climb: 5.1 m/s (1,000 ft/min)
  • Rate of sink: 2.1 m/s (410 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 36.3 kg/m2 (7.4 lb/sq ft)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 236. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. ^ a b c P&M Aviation (2014). "PulsR". www.pmaviation.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
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