Preceptor N3 Pup
Encyclopedia
The N3 Pup, is a family of ultralight, tube-and-fabric, high-wing, homebuilt aircraft
. Kits are produced and marketed by Preceptor Aircraft
, of Rutherfordton, North Carolina
.
Designed to meet FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles standards, the N3 Pup can accept various lightweight 4-cycle engines of between 37 hp. If built to specifications with minimal additions, it meets the requirements for a FAR 103 ultralight aircraft, with an empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). It may also be built as an amateur-built aircraft meeting US Light Sport Aircraft standards.
The N3 Pup uses tube-and-fabric construction and a conventional 4-cycle engine. The fuselage
and tail are welded from 4130 steel tube. There are two main wing configurations that can be built. An aluminum wing spar with hinges allows the wings to be folded for trailering or storage. A wooden wing spar configuration gives the plane a lighter weight, but leaves the wings fixed. The engine cowling is made from fiberglass
.
The aircraft has had many engine choices available, but was marketed to use the Half VW engine first developed by Global engines, later bought by Mosler engines and finally marketed by TEC engines. The Total Engine Concepts MM CB-40
was the last purpose-built engine marketed for the Pup. The aircraft is sold as partially prefabricated kits or can be built scratchbuilt from plans.
Stinger
Super Pup
Ultra Pup
Homebuilt aircraft
Also known as amateur-built aircraft or kit planes, homebuilt aircraft are constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity. These aircraft may be constructed from "scratch," from plans, or from assembly kits.-Overview:...
. Kits are produced and marketed by Preceptor Aircraft
Preceptor Aircraft
Preceptor Aircraft is an American aircraft kit manufacturer located in Rutherfordton, North Carolina, producing kits for homebuilt monoplanes. The company was previously named Nostalgair.-Aircraft:* STOL King, A high wing STOL aircraft....
, of Rutherfordton, North Carolina
Rutherfordton, North Carolina
Rutherfordton is a town in Rutherford County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,131 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Rutherford County.-Geography:Rutherfordton is located at ....
.
Designed to meet FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles standards, the N3 Pup can accept various lightweight 4-cycle engines of between 37 hp. If built to specifications with minimal additions, it meets the requirements for a FAR 103 ultralight aircraft, with an empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). It may also be built as an amateur-built aircraft meeting US Light Sport Aircraft standards.
Design and development
The Pup is designed to be flown cross-country and also can be mounted with floats and skis.The N3 Pup uses tube-and-fabric construction and a conventional 4-cycle engine. The fuselage
Fuselage
The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
and tail are welded from 4130 steel tube. There are two main wing configurations that can be built. An aluminum wing spar with hinges allows the wings to be folded for trailering or storage. A wooden wing spar configuration gives the plane a lighter weight, but leaves the wings fixed. The engine cowling is made from fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
.
The aircraft has had many engine choices available, but was marketed to use the Half VW engine first developed by Global engines, later bought by Mosler engines and finally marketed by TEC engines. The Total Engine Concepts MM CB-40
Total Engine Concepts MM CB-40
-External links:**...
was the last purpose-built engine marketed for the Pup. The aircraft is sold as partially prefabricated kits or can be built scratchbuilt from plans.
Operational history
A N3 Pup modified to look like a Citabria named "Citabriette" won the Grand Champion Ultralight award at the EAA Oshkosh airshow 1988.Variants
N3 Pup- Single seat variant designed to resemble a 3/4 scale Piper J-3 Cub. Originally named the Nostalgair N-3 Pup. Engine is a TEC Half VW of 40 hp. Meets FAR 103 requirements with an empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg) and gross weight of 535 lb (243 kg). 800 had been completed by December 2007.
Stinger
- Single seat variant with a parasol wingParasol wingA parasol wing monoplane is an aircraft design in which the wing is not mounted directly to the fuselage, but rather, the fuselage is supported beneath it by a set of struts, called cabane struts...
in place of the enclosed cabin, longer nose and larger engine. First flown in 1995. Engine is a Volkswagen air-cooled engine of 50 hp. Gross weight of 550 lb (249 kg). Two had been completed by December 2007.
Super Pup
- Single seat variant with larger engine and higher empty weight, first flown in 1995. Engine is a Volkswagen air-cooled engine of 50 hp. Empty weight of 330 lb (150 kg) and gross weight of 630 lb (286 kg).
Ultra Pup
- Two seat variant based on the Piper J-3 Cub, first flown in 1989. Engine is a Volkswagen air-cooled engine of 60 hp. Empty weight of 450 lb (204 kg) and gross weight of 1000 lb (454 kg).