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Ultracraft Calypso
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OO-C68 Ultracraft Calypso 1a c/n 003 - Schaffen-Diest airfield in Belgium - 15 August 2004 ultralight aeroplanes

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).

Construction of the Ultracraft Calypso 1a s/n 003 started in 1996 and was was registered on OO-C68 with G. Ramaekers on 15 July 1998. The aircraft was fitted with a Rotax 503 engine. The first flight of the OO-C68 took place on 13 October 1998. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair in an incident at Avernas on 18 June 2006. On that day, Calypso 1a OO-C68 and Fly Synthesis Storch OO-E55 were substantial damaged by Rans S-12 Airaile 59-YS that landed on top of both aircraft parked MLA-aircraft at the ULM airfield Avernas (Hannuit).
On 15 August 2004, Ultracraft Calypso 1a OO-C68 was seen at Schaffen-Diest aerodrome (EBDT).

page last updated: 09-09-2009
Copyright © Jack Wolbrink, Emmen, the Netherlands
 

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