Fletcher Hercules

The Fletcher Hercules is an American two-seat ultralight trike that was designed by AW Harrison and produced by Fletcher's Ultralights of Turlock, California, in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction and was also available as a completed aircraft.

Design and development
The Hercules was designed as a lightweight single-seat aircraft, with a second seat available to carry an instructor or passenger when required. Because it was intended to be flown solo most of the time it came factory-supplied with a relatively low powered engine, to reduce both the aircraft's cost and weight. Higher powered engines were available if the aircraft was to be used in the training role on a regular basis.

In writing about the Hercules, reviewer Andre Cliche explained the engine choice, "Because most people usually fly alone in their two-seater, it makes for a well balanced single seater with peppy performance, low fuel burn and longer range. However, when comes the time to carry an occasional passenger, its two-seater capacity far outweighs its anemic performance with two people aboard. This is a smart compromise that gives the best of both worlds."

The Hercules was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules when flown as a single-seater, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb. The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 254 lb. It features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its single surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 34 ft span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame control bar. The standard wing supplied was the Mustang double-surface wing of 190 sqft. A smaller wing of 145 sqft was available to increase cruising speed at the cost of a higher stall speed.

The aircraft has an acceptable installed power range of 35 to 80 hp. The standard engine supplied was the twin cylinder two-stroke 35 hp 2si 460-F35, with the 50 hp Rotax 503 or the 64 hp Rotax 582 engines available as options. Other engines used include the 35 hp Cuyuna UL II-02, 40 hp Rotax 447, 74 hp Rotax 618 and the four-stroke 60 hp HKS 700E.

Due to its off-airport capabilities the Hercules was nicknamed "the jeep of trikes". It is noted for its ease of set-up and repair. Twenty-five had been completed and flown by February 2000.

Variants

 * Hercules Cruiser
 * Version marketed circa 1998 with 35 hp Cuyuna UL II-02 engine


 * Hercules Cross Country
 * Version marketed circa 1998 with 50 hp Rotax 503 engine