Fletcher Hercules

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title: "Fletcher Hercules" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1990s-united-states-ultralight-aircraft", "homebuilt-aircraft", "single-engined-pusher-aircraft"] description: "American ultralight airplane" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fletcher_Hercules" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American ultralight airplane ::

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

Field	Value
name	Hercules
aircraft_type	Ultralight trike
national_origin	United States
manufacturer	Fletcher's Ultralights
designer	AW Harrison
status	Production completed
number_built	25 (February 2000)
::

| name = Hercules | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Ultralight trike | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = Fletcher's Ultralights | design_group = | designer = AW Harrison | builder = | issuer = | status = Production completed | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 25 (February 2000) | 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 = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = 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. 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

Specifications (version)

|ref=Cliche and Kitplanes |prime units?=imp General characteristics

|genhide=

|crew=one |capacity=one passenger |length m= |length ft=9 |length in= |length note= |span m= |span ft=34 |span in= |span note= |height m= |height ft=10 |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=190 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=254 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=600 |gross weight note= |fuel capacity=5 u.s.gal |more general= Powerplant

|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=2si 460-F35 |eng1 type=twin cylinder two-stroke |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=35

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

Performance

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=40 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=28 |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=85 |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft=12000 |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=400 |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. Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page C-11. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN. 0-9680628-1-4
2. Downey, Julia: ''2000 Trike and 'Chute Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 2, February 2000, page 45. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851
3. Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', page 162. BAI Communications. {{ISBN. 0-9636409-4-1

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