Cyclone
Cyclone Airsports
Contents
History
The design of the Cyclone AX3 originated in the Chiota Weed Hopper, designed by NASA scientist Don Chiota. In its original form it was powered by a 250cc single cylinder engine and only had rudder and elevator controls. The design was eventually bought by a French company who re-designed it, adding aileron control on the wings plus more powerful engines as engine technology progressed and successfully manufactured several thousand of them in kit form.
The aircraft was brought into the United Kingdom in 1993 by Bill Sherlock of Cyclone Airsports Ltd, Wallingford, Oxfordshire (producers of the Chaser flex wing, outside the scope of this website), and re-designed yet again in order to comply with the CAA design criteria for obtaining the necessary UK airworthiness certificate.
The AX2000 was a development of the earlier Cyclone AX3. As well as a new engine, the AX2000 differed chiefly from the AX3 in having a completely double surface wing of reduced area and modified structure, a change of alloy for the main keel beam, a revised and lightened fuselage with new undercarriage, an increased fuel capacity and the addition of an elevator anti-balance trim tab.
The AX2000 was certificated as a glider tug, for gliders of class 1 and 2. A V-shaped forward tow line extension joins the main line to a pair of tug pillars attached to the rear spar on the under surfaces of the AX2000's wing.
In 1995, Cyclone Airsports were taken over by Pegasus Aircraft of Marlborough, formed in 1984 as a manufacturer of flexwing and weightshift microlights. Pegasus continued the manufacture of the AX2000 right through until the end of 2002. The Pegasus name itself disappeared in 2003, when it merged with Mainair to become P & M Aviation.
Company References
Project Data
| Project No | Type No | Name | Alternative Name(s) | Year | Spec (Requirement) | Status | Qty | Description | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AX3 | 1992 | Prod | 43 | 2S, 1E three axis microlight | 1, 2 | ||||
| AX2000 | 1996 | Prod | 29 (1) | 2S, 1E three axis microlight | 1, 3, 4 |
Project References
- Wikipedia
- https://www.ulav8r.com/PDF%20files/23042000000.pdf
- https://www.recreationalflying.com/aircraft/recreational-3-axis/cyclone-ax2000-r1251/
- https://www.ulav8r.com/PDF%20files/25727000000.pdf
Production Summary
Select the button to go to the appropriate listings page.
Note: In the Production Summary, conversions are only listed where they result in a change from one Type to another. Changes to sub-type or Mark Number are not shown in the summary.
For details of these, see the individual listings.
Total Cyclone Production72