Phase 3 Eclipse

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title: "Phase 3 Eclipse" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1980s-united-states-ultralight-aircraft", "homebuilt-aircraft", "single-engined-pusher-aircraft", "high-wing-aircraft", "v-tail-aircraft"] description: "American ultralight aircraft" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase_3_Eclipse" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American ultralight aircraft ::

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

Field	Value
name	Eclipse
aircraft_type	Ultralight aircraft
national_origin	United States
manufacturer	Phase 3 Aircraft
designer	Bruce Emmons
status	Production completed
introduction	1983
::

| name = Eclipse | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Ultralight aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = Phase 3 Aircraft | design_group = | designer = Bruce Emmons | builder = | issuer = | status = Production completed | 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 = 1983 | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = The Phase 3 Eclipse is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Bruce Emmons and produced by Phase 3 Aircraft. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

Design and development

The aircraft was designed 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 165 lb. It features a cantilever high-wing, inverted V-tail, a single-seat, open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with the flying surfaces covered in double surface Dacron sailcloth. Its elliptical planform 32.2 ft span wing it mounted using several cabane struts and produces a 15:1 glide ratio. The pilot sits on an open-air seat, without a windshield. The control system is unusual in that roll control is by cable-actuated wing warping. All three landing gear wheels have suspension and the nosewheel is steerable. The 25 hp KFM 107 powerplant is mounted behind the pilot's seat, with the propeller in between the upper and lower tailboom tubes. The design was proof-tested to +9/-9 g. The aircraft exhibits good stability in all axes in flight and can be quickly dismantled for storage or ground transport. The wing is removed with three bolts.

The design was introduced just before the ultralight market in the US became saturated in 1984, as such it such never became a commercial success. Only a small number were completed.

Specifications (Eclipse)

|ref=Cliche and Virtual Ultralight Museum. |prime units?=imp General characteristics

|genhide=

|crew=one |capacity= |length m= |length ft=14 |length in= |length note= |span m= |span ft=32.2 |span in= |span note= |height m= |height ft=5 |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=114 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=165 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=465 |gross weight note= |fuel capacity=5 u.s.gal |more general= Powerplant

|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=KFM 107 |eng1 type=twin cylinder, two-stroke, horizontally-opposed aircraft engine, with a 2:1 V-belt reduction drive |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=25

|prop blade number=2 |prop name=wooden |prop dia m= |prop dia ft=4 |prop dia in=6 |prop dia note= with a 23 inch pitch

Performance

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph=63 |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=50 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=25 |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=150 |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits=+9/-9 |roll rate= |glide ratio=15:1 |climb rate ms= |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. Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page E-14. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN. 0-9680628-1-4
2. Virtual Ultralight Museum. (n.d.). "Eclipse".

::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. ::