Top Rudder Aircraft, maker of the new Solo (Part 103) and Ruckus (LSA) aircraft, has one of the hottest booths at this year’s Sun ‘n Fun.
The company sold six of 10 available slots it had for planes in 2024 before the show opened on Friday. Both planes are based on a Troy Woodard design that had been around for a while, but it was only three months ago that Bryce Angel started Top Rudder to make these ultralight and light sport variants.
“It’s designed like a 1300-pound aircraft that’s we’ve modified for two entirely different kinds of flying,” explains Top Rudder’s Chief Engineer George Boney. “It can handle up to 200 hp, but our standard Polini 303 allows for stall speeds under 20 mph and a cruise of 50 for ultralight flying. Or, you can add another fuel tank, a slightly larger engine and tires and have an inexpensive backcountry sport plane that has real STOL capabilities.”
In its sport configuration with the Polini, the plane weighs about 350 pounds and is capable of limited acrobatics. All of the specifications for the planes are available on the company’s website, but what initially stands out for both models are the quick-fold wings, carbon fiber leading edge slats and tail surfaces, five-position seat, and aluminum wing skins and flaperons. “These first ten planes are a partnership between us and the buyers because we really want people to try different options as we help them build the plane they want,” said Boney. The base model starts at $40,000 and that price includes the builder assist.
