| J-3 Kitten
Hipp's adorable little feline will turn 12 years old come Sun 'n Fun
('twas introduced at the 1984 event, where it received the Best New
Design award). Another J-3 Cub knockoff, the J-3 Kitten is purrfect
(sorry, couldn't resist) for Sunday-afternoon aviating.
The high-wing, strut-braced Kitten uses the ever-popular Rotax 277;
it'll take off in just 50' and land in 200' (no brakes), climb at 800
fpm, and cruise at about 59 mph.
| Wing Span
30.00 ft. |
Range
150 sm |
| Wing Area
120.0 sq. ft. |
Take off Dist .
50 ft. |
| Length
16.25 ft. |
VNE
63 mph |
| Max Gross Wt
500 Ibs. |
Cruise
60 mph |
| Empty Wt
250 lbs |
Stall
24 mph |
| Fuel Capacity
5 gal. |
Climb Rate @msl 750 fpm |
| Seats 1 |
|
Engine
Rotax 277 - 28 hp |
Construction Tube, Fabric, Wood |
| Plans Available |
Est. Bldg. Time
350 hrs. |
The conventional-gear monoplane combines some composite
materials with wood, tubing, and fabric, and takes only about 350 hours
to build. The fully enclosed Kitten slips like a bandit when you want
to, making tight approaches a dream, and gets off the ground rather
readily... even on the smaller Rotax 277. The controls are light,
responsive, and accompanied by a very positive pitch stability profile
that is nearly copied by yaw and roll... making for a steady flyer for
new and occasionally unsteady flyers. Moderate adverse yaw is countered
by an extremely aggressive rudder, and the Kitten's stall personality is
downright boring—it stalls at 25 to 26 mph with little more than a light
high-frequency buffet and a very modest break that will put the fear of
God into no one. It's aptly named... this thing is a real pussy-cat.
Yes, the Kitten will spin but only with significant inducement;
standard recovery methods work exceedingly well and quite quickly.
Takeoff and landing chores are easy due to a well-designed landing, and
novice tail dragger flyers will find it not to be a hassle in either
three-point or wheel-landing style touchdowns.
The J-3 Kitten has a fairly wide wingspan of 30' and the wings are
detachable; it is 16'3" long and 5'4" tall. The Hipp's
operation is a small family affair that has garnered an excellent rep
for friendly service and uncompromising concern for customers. Not the
biggest ultralight company you'll ever see... but easily one of the
nicest to work with... just ask their builders.
Hipp's Superbirds J-3 Kitten
ZOOM REPORT: This "feline" remains a perennial
favorite of ours. Excellent ground handling, good flying manners, and a
nice stability profile meld into a responsive-but-undemanding aircraft
that the novice or experienced flyer can appreciate. Fun!
USA Aircraft Ratings: Hipps J-3 Kitten
- Design/Engineering: B.
- Ground Handling: B. Nice taildragger, fairly forgiving.
- Flight Characteristics: B+. Very enjoyable, playful bird.
- Company Profile: B. Small company, but very dedicated.
- Kit/Plans: B-.
- Bang for the Buck: B-. Serious value for little money.
- Risk Factor: 3.
- Final Grade: B+. One of my favorite airplanes. Highly Recommended.
The above was found at: http://www.av8r.net/issues/march96/top12.htm
For more information contact:
HIPP'S SUPERBIRDS, INC.
P.O.Box 266 Saluda NC
28773 |
