Pegasus Quantum
British ultralight trike
title: "Pegasus Quantum" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["p&m-aviation-aircraft", "1990s-british-ultralight-aircraft", "homebuilt-aircraft", "single-engined-pusher-aircraft", "ultralight-trikes"] description: "British ultralight trike" topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegasus_Quantum" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary British ultralight trike ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Quantum |
| image | File:Pegasus quantum 15-912 microlight g-byff kemble arp.jpg |
| caption | Pegasus Quantum 912 |
| aircraft_type | Ultralight trike |
| national_origin | United Kingdom |
| manufacturer | Pegasus Aviation |
| P&M Aviation | |
| status | Production completed |
| number_built | over 600 |
| introduction | 1996 |
| :: |
| name = Quantum | logo = | logo_size = | image = File:Pegasus quantum 15-912 microlight g-byff kemble arp.jpg | alt = | caption = Pegasus Quantum 912 | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Ultralight trike | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United Kingdom | manufacturer = Pegasus Aviation P&M Aviation | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = Production completed | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = over 600 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = 1996 | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = The Pegasus Quantum is a British two-seat, ultralight trike that was designed and produced by Pegasus Aviation and later by P&M Aviation, supplied as a completed aircraft.
In the early 2000s Pegasus Aviation was merged with rival Mainair Sports into P&M Aviation, and production of the Quantum continued but shifted from the Pegasus plant in Marlborough, Wiltshire, to the Mainair factory in Rochdale. As the company rationalized the two aircraft lines, Quantum production ended. By 2012 the manufacturer indicated, "This aircraft is no longer in production...Full spares and support are still available and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Complete aircraft can still be manufactured but by special request only."
Design and development
The Quantum was intended as an up-scale touring trike for long distance flying. It was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, including the category's maximum gross weight of 450 kg. It is also certified to comply with UK BCAR Section "S" and German DULV microlight certification. The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 409 kg. It has 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 aluminium tubing, with its double-surface Pegasus Q2 wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 10.4 m span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame control bar. The Quantum line includes a number of models that incorporate various options packages and engines.
Operational history
Quantums have been used for a number of record-setting flights, including the first microlight flight around the world, flown by Brian Milton and Keith Reynolds in the Quantum 912 Global Flyer between 14 March - 21 July 1998.
Milton explains why he chose the Quantum at the start of planning for the record-circling flight:
The Quantum was also flown by Simon Baker to win the World Microlight Championships.
Incidents
In 2024, a Quantum 15 took off by itself from Athey's Moor airfield near Newcastle, England, after the pilot had left the aircraft to hand-start the engine. The uncrewed aircraft was tracked by radar as it flew out to sea north of Newcastle, after which it presumably crashed into the ocean.
Variants
;Quantum 462 Rotax 462 water cooled engine. ;Quantum 503 :The base model, without a cockpit fairing and powered by the Rotax 503, twin cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled engine of 37 kW. Standard equipment when delivered included in-flight trim, all-wheel suspension and brakes. Price in 2000 was US$14,000 ready to fly. ;Quantum Sport/Quantum 582 :The mid-model, which adds an instrument pod, wheel pants, a retractable wing-mounted pylon with a gas strut, pylon fairing, extra stowage and powered by the Rotax 582, twin cylinder, two-stroke, liquid-cooled engine of 48 kW. Price in 2000 was US$16,500 ready to fly. ;Quantum SuperSport/Quantum 912 :The high-end model, which adds a full cockpit fairing, windshield, additional stowage and powered by the Rotax 912, four cylinder, four-stroke, liquid-cooled engine of 60 kW. Price in 2000 was US$30,000 ready to fly.
Specifications (SuperSport)
|ref=Bertrand and P&M Aviation |prime units?=met General characteristics
|genhide=
|crew=one pilot |capacity=one passenger (100kg pilot and passenger weight capacity)x |length m= |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m=10.4 |span ft= |span in= |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm=15.6 |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg=204 |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg=409 |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |fuel capacity=49 L |more general= Powerplant
|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Rotax 912UL |eng1 type=four cylinder, four-stroke aircraft engine |eng1 kw=60 |eng1 hp=
|prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note=
Performance
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=145 |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh=97 |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh=61 |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh=145 |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=Ultimate: +6g/-3g, operational: +4g/0g |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms=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
- Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page C-16. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN. 0-9680628-1-4
- Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04'', page 106. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
- [[P&M Aviation]]. "The Pegasus Quantum".
- Milton, Brian: ''Global Flyer - Around the World in 80 Flying Days'', page 23. Mainstream Publishing, 1998. {{ISBN. 1-84018-129-X
- Holmes, Oliver. (2024-12-17). "Small aircraft took off by itself and flew out to sea, accident report reveals". The Guardian.
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