Chotia Weedhopper

The Weedhopper is an American high-wing, tractor configuration, tricycle gear, two-axis control ultralight aircraft originally developed by John Chotia during the height of the 1970s ultralight boom and introduced in 1977. When it was in production the aircraft was sold as a kit for amateur construction and could be assembled in 25-30 man-hours.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Chotia Weedhopper
Weedhopper
Role Ultralight aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Weedhopper Aircraft
Designer John Chotia
Introduction 1977
Status Production completed
Produced 1977-2012
Number built 13,000 (2007)[1]
Variants Chotia Woodhopper
Cyclone AX2000
Flylab Tucano
Raj Hamsa X-Air

By early 2013 the company website had been blanked and put up for sale and it is likely that the company has closed and production ended.[11]

Design and development

Many of the early ultralights used a "weight shift" method of control, requiring the pilot to push a control bar to shift the center of gravity of the aircraft. The Weedhopper differed from most other ultralights of the period in that it has a control stick which moves the rudder and elevator, giving it two axis control in pitch and yaw. The pronounced dihedral of the wings, along with the swept leading edge causes it to bank into the turn, and results in a very stable, easy-to-fly aircraft. The Weedhopper differs from many of the other early ultralights in that it had a strut-braced wing, whereas most period ultralights have wire-braced wings.[2]

The Weedhopper is constructed from aluminium tubing and covered with Dacron pre-sewn envelopes. The early versions of the aircraft developed a poor reputation due to the lack of reliable engines available in the 1970s. This was rectified with the adoption of the Rotax 277 28 hp (21 kW) and later the Rotax 447 40 hp (30 kW) powerplant.[2][12]

Over 13,000 Weedhoppers have been sold. It was popular because it offered people an inexpensive way to fly for pleasure. The aircraft could be easily disassembled and put on a trailer for home storage. It was not necessary to rent an expensive hangar. It could also be flown from just about any field because of its short takeoff and landing requirements (about 100 feet (30 m) with no obstacles). The kits originally sold for $2,000, and in 2011 the Weedhopper model 40 sold for US$8,495.[2][1][13]

In its home country versions of the aircraft are eligible for the FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles category, the experimental amateur-built category and the light-sport aircraft category.[10]

Variants
Weedhopper A
Initial production version, also known as the JC-24A.
Weedhopper B
Improved production version, also known as the JC-24B.
Weedhopper C
Improved production version, also known as the JC-24C.[14]
Weedhopper Standard
Basic model with a 28 hp (21 kW) Rotax 277 engine and an empty weight of 235 lb (107 kg) for the US amateur-built category.[9][10][1]
Weedhopper Deluxe
Improved production model with a 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447 engine.[4][6][7][8][10]
Weedhopper 40
Current production model with a 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447 engine.[3][5][9][1]
Weedhopper Super
Up-engined model with a 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 engine, many extras and an empty weight of 330 lb (150 kg) for the US amateur-built category.[9][10][1]
Weedhopper II
Current production two seat side-by-side seating model with a 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 engine. Also known as the Weedhopper Two Place.[2][4][5][9][10][1][15]

Aircraft on display
Weedhopper JC-24C in the National Air and Space Museum.

Specifications (Weedhopper Model 40)

Data from Weedhopper Aircraft[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Length: 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m)
  • Wingspan: 28 ft 0 in (8.53 m)
  • Height: 6 ft 97 in (4.29 m)
  • Wing area: 168 sq ft (15.6 m2)
  • Empty weight: 250 lb (113 kg)
  • Gross weight: 550 lb (249 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 5 US gallons (19 litres)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 447 twin-cylinder, two-stroke aircraft engine, 40 hp (30 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed Powerfin ground adjustable

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 55 mph (89 km/h, 48 kn)
  • Stall speed: 20 mph (32 km/h, 17 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 65 mph (105 km/h, 56 kn)
  • Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)

Avionics

  • none

Comparable aircraft

References
  1. Downey, Julia: 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 80. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  2. Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page B-64 and B-111. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
  3. Weedhopper Aircraft. "Weedhopper Model 40". Archived from the original on 2 October 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  4. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 294. BAI Communications. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  5. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 167. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
  6. Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 76. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  7. Downey, Julia: 2001 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 12, December 2000, page 82. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851
  8. Downey, Julia: 2002 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 18, Number 12, December 2001, page 55. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851
  9. Newby-Gonzalez, Tori: 2004 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 20, Number 12, December 2003, page 65. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  10. Downey, Julia: 2005 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 21, Number 12, December 2004, page 88. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  11. Weedhopper Aircraft. "Weedhopper". weedhopperusa.net. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  12. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 127. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  13. Weedhopper Aircraft. "Weedhopper Aircraft". Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  14. jc-24c.com (n.d.). "Weedhopper-C Resource Site". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  15. Weedhopper Aircraft. "Weedhopper two place airplane". Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
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