Fuel Tank Installation in Ultralight Aircraft

We've been using aluminum fuel tanks in our Belite for quite a while.  A challenge has been how to mount them.  After some experimentation, we've come up with the following technique for the lightest possible mounting technique.

We weld some two stubs on each side of the rear fuselage, which the tank will snug up and into.  The tank is then secured with lightweight stainless steel straps, with a small amount of rubber tubing acting as a chafe strip on each stud.  Hopefully all of this is clear by looking at the following pictures:

Rear View of Aluminum Fuel Tank in Ultralight Aircraft

View of Fuel tank from within cockpit (seat back removed)

Middle clamp around tank

Aluminum Fuel Tank in Ultralight Aircraft

It all works well and is very strong.  Three stainless steel straps, chafe bushings, and steel studs provide a lightweight fuel tank mount.

closeups of 4 stroke engine on Belite ultralight aircraft

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Belite Ultralight Aircraft (Tricycle Gear) with 4 Stroke Motor

We are now flying a Belite Trike with a 4 stroke engine.  You can see it at Sun N Fun!  Here's some more closeup pics of the Verner Motors 4 stroke engine, mounted on our Belite Ultralight Aircraft. 

Working so hard, with something to show for it (a 4 stroke engine too)

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We've been getting ready for Sun N Fun, and we're excited:  In addition to a ton of new avionics, and a major avionics announcement, we'll have a Belite Trike with a 4 stroke engine installed up front.  Yes, a tricycle gear ultralight aircraft with a reliable, quiet, fuel efficient four stroke!

Here's some photos of the 4 Stroke Belite Trike, taken during a test flight.  I've posted some further comments below the pics.

4 Stroke Ultralight Aircraft

Rolling into a crosswind at takeoff!

The photos were all taken by Gene Stratton, and they look superb.  The airplane (and attention to detail which we put into it) are also superb.  The paint job looks nearly liquid.

Here's some questions and answers:

1)  What kind of engine is it?  It's a two cylinder water cooled 4 stroke. It's from Verner Motors in Czechoslovakia, and it's a JCV 360.  I'll talk more about the engine in a future post, soon.

2)  What type of aircraft is it?  Why, it's a Belite Trike, featuring our new enhanced wingspan (26' 2") and enhanced wing area, thus improving climb and stall speed.  The paint job is Stewart Systems Cub Yellow, and it looks absolutely marvelous.  Please come see it at Sun N Fun!

3)  Is it available as a kit, or assembled, RTF?  Yes, both ways! 

4)  Is it quiet?  YES!

5)  Can it meet ultralight weight?  YES!  You have to build it with our carbon fiber spars and other weight saving options, but it will legally meet weight.

6)  Can it be built at a taildragger?  YES!  In fact, we had our sister aircraft featured on the front cover of Kitplanes in the April 2011 issue.

Here's a closeup of the engine.  You can see the water cooler and the oil cooler is hidden below.  I'll have more photos of the engine installation in a future post.

And yes, it will have a nice cowl on it at Sun N Fun.

See you at Sun N Fun!

White Paint sparkles on Belite Ultralight Aircraft

I needed to take some pics from the airplane today.  The weather cooperated as temperatures hit the high 70's while the strong morning winds quieted down to a comfortable crosswind by mid afternoon.

The reliable Hirth started on the second or third pull, and I was soon airborne, flying in our Superlite Dragon.


Gene had pulled Joe's new plane out of the hangar, and as I passed over the top, I just thought it was one of the nicest views of the top side of a Belite that I'd ever seen.  So I started snapping pics.


Here's a nice one, looking nearly straight down.

Belite Ultralight Aircraft

The pictured aircraft has painted Insignia White using Stewart Systems products.