Spectrum Beaver
Spectrum Aircraft · Canada · first flew 1983 · light aircraft
The Spectrum Beaver is a family of single- and two-seat pusher ultralight aircraft designed by Larry Croome. It was introduced by Spectrum Aircraft of Surrey, British Columbia, in 1983.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Open frame fuselage built around a single longitudinal aluminium tube that carries the tail, landing gear and seats |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Pusher ultralight with a high wing that is swept back and has elliptical tips
- Open frame fuselage built around a single longitudinal aluminium tube that carries the tail, landing gear and seats
- Engine mounted behind the cockpit driving a pusher propeller
Look for a high-wing pusher ultralight with swept wings, elliptical wing tips and an open tubular fuselage with a tricycle undercarriage.
Specifications
- The Spectrum Beaver has a length of 5.39 m (18 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.46 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 138 km/h (86 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The first model was the single-seat RX-28, built to meet the US FAR 103 ultralight limit of 254 lb empty weight. The two-seat RX 550 followed in December 1984, and after Spectrum closed in 1992 the design passed through several companies, with Aircraft Sales and Parts redesigning it as the RX 550 Plus.
Variants
Models include the RX-28, RX-35, two-seat RX 550 and RX 550 Plus, the RX 650, which was later reintroduced as the Freedom Lite SS-11 Skywatch, and the single-seat Beaver SS.
Where you'll see it
More than 1,800 kits had been delivered by 1990 and 2,000 RX 550s had been produced by all manufacturers by the end of 2007. The RX 550 became the most popular ultralight trainer in Canada, and it remains available as a kit.
Related aircraft
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