Cosmos Bison

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title: "Cosmos Bison" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1990s-french-ultralight-aircraft", "single-engined-pusher-aircraft", "ultralight-trikes"] description: "French ultralight trike" topic_path: "geography/france" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos_Bison" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary French ultralight trike ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]

Field	Value
name	Bison
aircraft_type	Ultralight trike
national_origin	France
manufacturer	Cosmos ULM
status	In production
variants	Cosmos Phase II
::

| name = Bison | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Ultralight trike | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = France | manufacturer = Cosmos ULM | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = In production | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = Cosmos Phase II | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = The Cosmos Bison, also called the Cosmos Bidulm, is a French two-seat, ultralight trike that is produced by Cosmos ULM. The aircraft is only supplied as a completed aircraft and is not available as a kit.

Design and development

The Bison was designed to comply with the European Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight classification. 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 wing is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing and covered in Dacron sailcloth. A number of different wings are available for the Bison. The wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame control bar. Optional equipment includes a cockpit fairing and wheel pants. Engines used are the 37 kW Rotax 503 and 30 kW Rotax 447 twin cylinder, two-stroke powerplants. The landing gear is cable-braced, which allows a folding design for ground transport or storage.

The Bison was later developed into the Cosmos Phase II, by adding larger seats, new landing gear shock absorbers and a redesigned engine mount to reduce vibration. In 2012 the Bison remained in production alongside the Phase II and Phase III, offering a simpler, lighter and less expensive two seater than the newer models.

Specifications (Bison)

|ref=Bertrand |prime units?=met General characteristics

|genhide=

|crew=one |capacity=one passenger |length m= |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m=10.6 |span ft= |span in= |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm=19 |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg=123 |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg=400 |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |fuel capacity=40 L |more general= Powerplant

|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Rotax 447 |eng1 type=twin cylinder, air-cooled two-stroke aircraft engine |eng1 kw=30 |eng1 hp=

|prop blade number=2 |prop name=wooden |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note=

Performance

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=85 |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh=60 |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh=40 |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms=2.5 |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics=

|see also= |related= |similar aircraft= |lists=

References

References

1. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04'', page 97. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::