Innovating for Part 103 Ultralights

bydanjohnson

Saturday, May 14, 2005 at 10:45 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Erik Pederson, president of Phantom Aeronautics, is developing an innovative rotary engine for Part 103 ultralights.
This four-stroke rotary engine significantly reduces weight, saving over 20 pounds compared to a Rotax 447.
Its lightweight design enables Part 103 ultralights to meet weight requirements, even with an electric starter, while using a four-cycle engine.
The engine is currently in development, with a test report expected once performance is optimized.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Developer Erik Pederson poses by the Phantom he now manufacturers. This one is powered by a rotary engine that saves 20+ pounds compared to a Rotax 447. It will make Part 103 *with* four cycle operation.

How can a Part 103 use a four-stroke engine? Well, you can elect the half-VW from Hummel…or you might try a rotary engine as seen at the 2005 Mid-Atlantic Fly-in. This innovative racing cart engine is being developed for Part 103 ultralight use (yes, to make the weight, with electric starter!) by Erik Pederson, the new president of Phantom Aeronautics. Impressively educated, Eric has a BS in Aero Engineering plus an MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering. Watch for a test report when Erik is satisfied with the performance.