- Development
- Operational history
- Variants
- Specifications (Little Bird #1)
- See also
- References
- External links
| name=Little Bird | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox Aircraft Type | type=Homebuilt aircraft | national origin=United States of America | manufacturer= | designer=Milton Hatfield | first flight=26 May 1986 (Little Bird#1) | introduced= | retired= | status= | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=3 | program cost= | unit cost= | developed from= | variants with their own articles= Arup S-2
}} |
The Hatfield Little Bird aircraft are a continuation of the Arup series of low aspect ratio aircraft. DevelopmentIn the late 1920s, Cloyd Snyder of South Bend, Indiana developed a series of "Heel Lift" low aspect ratio aircraft inspired by the gliding properties of felt heel inserts. South Bend native, Milt Hatfield had built a homebuilt aircraft at the same time. Seeking flying lessons while grounded by his father, he donated parts of his aircraft to the Arup S-2 project in exchange for flying lessons. Years later, Hatfield taught the buyer of the S-2 how to fly the plane, and salvaged parts from his own plane to keep it going. After Arup Manufacturing Corporation went out of business, Hatfield promised Snyder he would make one of his own.[1] Operational historyAll three Little Bird aircraft were bought by one owner and are awaiting restoration.[2] Variants- Hatfield Prototype
A wood and fabric heel lift aircraft started in the 1980s and scrapped.[3] - Hatfield Prototype 2
Another straight winged wood and fabric aircraft scrapped after one flight. - Little Bird #1
An ultralight swept wing heel lift. - Little Bird #2
N7019P A heavier experimental category aircraft. (1988) [4] - Little Bird #3
An advanced ultralight design with a 27hp Rotax. Specifications (Little Bird #1) {{Aircraft specs
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|length in=6
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|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=144
|wing area note=
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|volume m3=
|volume ft3=
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|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=248
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=458
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|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=60
|cruise speed kts=
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|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=25
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|never exceed speed kmh=
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|climb rate ftmin=450
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|wing loading kg/m2
|wing loading lb/sqft=3.2
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|power/mass=1hp/l7lb
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See also{{aircontent
|see also=
|related=- Arup S-1
- Arup S-2
- Arup S-3
- Arup S-4
- Hoffman Flying Wing
|similar aircraft=
|lists=
}}References1. ^{{cite journal|magazine=Sport Aviation|date=March 1987|title=Milt's Little Bird}}
2. ^{{cite web|title=Little Bird|url=http://www.oshkosh365.org/ok365_DiscussionBoardTopic.aspx?id=1235&boardid=147&forumid=180&topicid=4813|accessdate=12 December 2011}}
3. ^{{cite journal|magazine=Skyways|date=July 1995|pages=49–50}}
4. ^{{cite web|title=Hatfield aircraft|url=http://www.airport-data.com/search/search2.html?field=model&search=Search&code=Bird%20A|accessdate=11 December 2011}}
External links- Little Bird Website
- Flying with Milt
1 : Homebuilt aircraft |