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The Ultracraft Calypso is a Belgian designed and built really low-cost homebuilt
microlight aeroplane. The first airframe of the Calypso, designed by Erik Reynders, was a one-seat ULM
which flew first in October 1994. Construction of about 24 airframes of
the Calypso in monoplace or biplace configuration started over the
years, of which 14 were ready to fly in 2004. The homebuilt kits of the Calypso
are produced by Ultracraft in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium. The homebuilt kit
delivered to a customer includes a completed airframe, constructed out of welded
chromemolybdenum steel tubes. This steel alloy makes the frame lighter than steels
and absorb the shocks better; for the construction of the cockpit frame aluminium
is used as, this is sore light and well more stiffly than chrome molybdenum steel
and will thus less shocks absorb. Next to the steel alloy and aluminium used for
the airframe and cockpit: composites as well as wood are used in and
for the construction of the aircraft and its wings.
As power-unit for the Calypso the homebuilder can choose out of a wide range of
engines, including the 2-stroke Rotax 582 and the 4-stroke Rotax 912
engine. The wings of the Calypso can be folded, which reduces the needed parking
space in the hangar.
The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator used for the Ultracraft
Calypso 1a is ULAC (the general term used for Ultralight aircraft). |
