Six years in the making, Ultralight Soaring Aviation is proud to announce completion of the New Cumulus. A long-winged aircraft based on the original Cumulus by US Aviation, New Cumulus sports an entirely new wing construction. The older design was removed from the market in 1998 after a problem came to light.

"Our first task was redesigning the wing in such a way that nine Cumulus kit builders could finish their construction and get in the air," said Dave Ekstrom, president of Ultralight Soaring Aviation. "When we completed this task, US Aviation sold us all design rights to the remainder of the aircraft as well as other assets."

For the past three years, Ekstrom has been working diligently on the New Cumulus. He assembled a team to assist him with evaluation and redesign of the Cumulus. Concurrent with this effort, Ekstrom obtained the inventory created by AeroDreams, a Tennessee company that had contracted with US Aviation to design and manufacture the Cumulus. The motorglider was completely redesigned by engineer, Jim Collie, based on the Cloud Dancer that US Aviation has purchased from Erwin Rodger, its designer.

New Cumulus is an ultralight motorglider with a 43-foot span cantilevered wing. A partially-enclosed pod fuselage connects to a cruciform tail via a 5-inch boom. New Cumulus can achieve about 20:1 glide with sink rate of 190 fpm. The light powered glider can cruise between 40 and 65 mph and has a Vne of 90 mph. Ultralight Soaring Aviation is projecting cost for the basic kit at $13,000 with Rotax 447. Numerous options will be available.

Ekstrom reports, "We have started production and are preparing to ship the first three kits in the next few weeks. The third production prototype Cumulus will be back in the air shortly and may even fly to Lakeland, FL, this April. Whether flown to the show or brought by trailer, Ultralight Soaring Aviation welcomes interested pilots to find them in the ultralight area of the show.

FMI: ekstrom@midwest.net, http://www.members.aol.com/cumulusman