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If you read our coverage of Sun N Fun you saw the story on Wilf Stark
and the Eureka. Well Wilf was also at this years Airventure, with a
brand nicely finished Eureka. Wilf was kind enough to spend and few
minutes with me to go over some of the things that I missed on the
Eureka. For example the plane has a 4 point shoulder harness, which
strapped Wilf's, 6' 1" - 190 lb body comfortably into the
"little plane for big people."
At Lakeland Wilf was lucky enough to
have a customer who was willing to trade "room and board" for
the week for "delivery" of his craft. Not as fortunate at
Oshkosh, Wilf brought the trailer he uses to deliver his plane with him,
which has a loft for camping out in while at the show. Since Wilf brought
his wife down with him I know that he is new to this and will learn very
quickly that women, would prefer the "comforts of home" to
camping out in an aircraft trailer. Which I was reminded of once
again when the air-conditioning in my motor home, went on the
fritz, on the same day temperatures hit 114 degree F!
As of this writing five Eureka's have
been delivered, plus two more that Wilf has for demo purposes at home,
and the original prototype. As of this writing Wilf reports that
the craft has about 40 hours of trouble free flyin on it.
Some of the new features Hirth F -33
engine single cylinder 25 hp with electric start. According the Wilf
this little brute gets him off the ground in about 200 feet and climbs
out at around 500 feet per minute. The craft uses standard three axis
stick and for rudder controls, with an "all flying tail and
rudder." This has two advantages, excellent control and easier
building.
As the plane sat at the show it was a
legal U.S. ultralight, with 5 gallons of fuel, brakes, electric and
start it comes in at 240 lbs! The plane is offered two ways completed
airframe, fuselage, and wings for $4250. Delivery is taking about 6
weeks from placement of order.
With the engine, instruments, tank,
harness, supplied and installed for $7400 U.S.
Construction is aluminum and foam, 6160
aluminum in used in the wing spars and structure. An aluminum skin .012
thick is used to cover the plane, which is prepainted in white, which is
heat treated and tempered. The wings use 37 foam ribs which gives it a
nice clean smooth finish.
For more information contact -
Ameri-Cana Ultralights
Box 360 Henricks Dr.
Irricana Alberta Canada TOM 1B0 -
403-935-4248
wstark@compuserve.com
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