ADI Bumble Bee
title: "ADI Bumble Bee" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["homebuilt-aircraft", "1980s-united-states-ultralight-aircraft", "aircraft-designs-aircraft", "single-engined-pusher-autogyros"] topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADI_Bumble_Bee" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | ADI Bumble Bee |
| type | Ultralight autogyro |
| manufacturer | Aircraft Designs Inc |
| designer | Martin Hollmann |
| first_flight | 1983 |
| status | Plans available |
| :: |
|name=ADI Bumble Bee |image= |caption= |type=Ultralight autogyro |manufacturer=Aircraft Designs Inc |designer=Martin Hollmann |first_flight=1983 |introduction= |retired= |status=Plans available |primary_user= |more_users= |produced= |number_built= |unit cost= |variants= The ADI Bumble Bee (sometimes Hollmann Bumble Bee) is an ultralight gyrocopter marketed by Aircraft Designs Inc (ADI). It was the first of its kind when it flew in 1983 and is still available in plans form for homebuilding.
It was designed by Martin Hollmann after a back injury (sustained in the crash of the ADI Condor) prevented him from flying his previous design (the ADI Sportster) on account of not being able to lift the rotor assembly.
Design and development
The Bumble Bee is a simple and lightweight design that can be built to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb. The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 253 lb.
The aircraft consists of an open frame based on a keel tube, which supports the nose wheel at the front and the tail at the back. The pilot's seat, the engine and rotor assembly are bolted to the same keel tube. A control stick cyclically controls rotor pitch angle. The powerplant specified is a 40 hp, twin-cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled, single ignition Rotax 447 mounted in pusher configuration. The 38.5 hp Kawasaki 440 engine has also been used. The landing gear is of tricycle configuration, uses plastic-spoked wheels to reduce weight and does not include suspension. A horizontal tailplane maintains the aircraft pitch angle in flight and a large fin and rudder is provided. The main rotor system is of low-inertia and requires pilot skill to manage energy on landing.
The aircraft plans cost US$160 in 2001. Construction time is estimated as 400 hours, much of which is consumed fabricating the composite rotor blades.
Specifications (ADI Bumble Bee)
|ref=Bumble Bee Performance and Stress Analysis |prime units?=kts General characteristics
|crew=1 |length ft=10 |length in= |length note= |width ft= |width in= |width note= |height ft=7 |height in=6 |height note= |empty weight lb=213 |empty weight note= |gross weight lb=500 |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general= Powerplant
|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Rotax 447 |eng1 type=2-cylinder air-cooled 2-stroke in-line piston engine |eng1 hp=40 |eng1 note=
|prop blade number=2 |prop name=fixed-pitch propeller |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop dia note=
|rot number=1 |rot dia ft=23 |rot dia in= |rot area sqft= |rot area note=
- Blade section: - root: NACA ; tip: NACA -- Performance -- |max speed kts=49 |max speed note= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range nmi=56 |range note= |ferry range nmi= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling ft=16000 |ceiling note= |climb rate ftmin=1500 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |disk loading lb/sqft=1.2 |disk loading note= |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass=0.08 hp/lb |more performance=
|avionics=
References
|lists=
References
- (2001-05-05). "Gyroplanes". Aircraftdesigns.com.
- Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page F-1. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN. 0-9680628-1-4
- Downey, Julia: ''2005 Trikes 'Chutes and Rotorcraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 22, Number 2, February 2005, page 54. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04'', page 203. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
- (14 July 1984). "Bumble Bee Performance and Stress Analysis".
- "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage".
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