Sorrell Hiperlight
American ultralight biplane
title: "Sorrell Hiperlight" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["biplanes-with-negative-stagger", "sorrell-aircraft", "1980s-united-states-ultralight-aircraft", "single-engined-tractor-aircraft", "aircraft-with-fixed-conventional-landing-gear", "single-engined-piston-aircraft"] description: "American ultralight biplane" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorrell_Hiperlight" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American ultralight biplane ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Hiperlight |
| image | SorrellHiperlight.jpg |
| aircraft_type | Ultralight aircraft |
| national_origin | United States |
| manufacturer | Thunderbird Aviation |
| designer | Sorrell brothers |
| status | In production |
| number_built | 603 (SNS-8, Dec 2011) |
| 26 (SNS-9, Dec 2011) | |
| introduction | 1982 |
| first_flight | 1982 |
| developed_from | Sorrell Hiperbipe |
| :: |
| name = Hiperlight | logo = | logo_size = | image = SorrellHiperlight.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Ultralight aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = Thunderbird Aviation | design_group = | designer = Sorrell brothers | builder = | issuer = | status = In production | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 603 (SNS-8, Dec 2011) 26 (SNS-9, Dec 2011) | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = 1982 | retired = | first_flight = 1982 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = Sorrell Hiperbipe | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded =
The Sorrell Hiperlight is a family of single and two seat, negative stagger biplanes, designed for amateur construction.
The design was sold initially by Sunrise Aircraft of Sheridan, Oregon and as of May 2022 was produced by Thunderbird Aviation of Ray, Michigan.
Development
The single seat SNS-8 Hiperlight was designed by the Sorrell brothers in 1982 at the request of the US Rotax engine distributor to provide an enclosed cockpit aircraft design to utilize the 28 hp Rotax 277 engine. The resulting aircraft was a scaled-down version of the very successful Sorrell Hiperbipe aerobatic cabin biplane and with an empty weight of 247 lb fit the US ultralight category. The series designation of "SNS" stands for Sorrell Negative Stagger.
The aircraft is described as easy to fly, with light control forces and well balanced controls. The aircraft has full-span ailerons on the bottom wing that droop together when the stick is pulled back, giving the same effect as flaps in the landing flare.
28 hp is sufficient to power the design and it does not require larger engines. Since the Rotax 277 has been out of production for many years engines such as the 2si 460 or Hirth F-33 are often used.
Design
The aircraft features a welded steel tube forward fuselage, with a detachable aluminium tube aft fuselage. The rear fuselage can be easily removed for transport or storage in ten minutes. The wings are also constructed from aluminium tubes and the whole aircraft is covered in aircraft fabric. The SNS-8 has a maximum pilot weight of 230 lb.
The SNS-8 kit was estimated as taking 200–300 hours to assemble.
Sunrise Aircraft developed the single seat SNS-8 into the SNS-9 two-seater. The SNS-9 is minimally larger with a wingspan of 23.4 ft versus the SNS-8's 22 ft, length increased from 15.6 ft to 18 ft and gross weight increased from 500 lb to 814 lb. The SNS-9 uses the 50 hp Rotax 503 as its standard powerplant and had an optional Wankel engine available.
Variants
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Hyperlight.jpg" caption="Sorrell Hiperlight"] ::
;SNS-8 :Single seat version ;SNS-9 :Two seat version ;Hiperlight EXP ;EXP II
Specifications (SNS-8)
|ref=Cliche and Kitplanes |prime units?=imp General characteristics
|genhide= |crew=one |capacity= |length m= |length ft=15 |length in=6 |length note= |span m= |span ft=22 |span in=0 |span note= |height m= |height ft=5 |height in=4 |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=140 |wing area note= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=247 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=500 |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity=5 US gallons (19 litres) |more general= Powerplant
|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Rotax 277 |eng1 type=single cylinder two stroke piston aircraft engine |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=28 |eng1 kn= |eng1 lbf= |eng1 note= |power original= |prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note=
Performance
|perfhide= |max speed kmh= |max speed mph=98 |max speed kts= |max speed note= |max speed mach= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=60 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=27 |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed mph= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |range km= |range miles=180 |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=600 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |disk loading kg/m2= |disk loading lb/sqft= |disk loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics=
References
References
- Vandermeullen, Richard: ''2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide'', Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 72. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page B-30 and B-83. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN. 0-9680628-1-4
- Downey, Julia: ''1999 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 69. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- Downey, Julia: ''2002 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 18, Number 12, December 2001, page 69. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- Downey, Julia: ''2008 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 75. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- Jones, Ron. (2009). "Thunderbird Aviation".
- Recreational Aviation Australia. (December 2003). "Sorrell Hiperlight".
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