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The Teratorn T/A is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed and produced by Teratorn Aircraft. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.^[1]

The first design by Teratorn Aircraft was known simply as the Teratorn, named after the extinct ice-age soaring bird. The company took its name from the first design. This design quickly evolved into the T/A model and was produced until supplanted in production by the Tierra I.^[1]

The aircraft was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The original Teratorn has a standard empty weight of 212 lb (96 kg). It features a cable-braced high-wing, a single-seat, open cockpit, conventional landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.^[1]

Both the Teratorn and the T/A are made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with the flying surfaces covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its single-surface 32 ft (9.8 m) span wing is supported by cables attached to a simple kingpost. The landing gear is bungee suspended. Both models were supplied with the 28 hp (21 kW) Rotax 277 single cylinder, two-stroke powerplant as their standard engine.^[1]

The T/A model proved a commercial success and a large number were sold. The Skye Treck Skyseeker was based on the T/A.^[1]

Teratorn

Simple motorglider with a sling seat, utilizing weight shift for pitch control and rudder and spoilers for roll control, both cable-actuated by movement of the sling seat. Empty weight 212 lb (96 kg), gross weight 474 lb (215 kg), cruise speed 35 mph (56 km/h), stall speed 15 mph (24 km/h), glide ratio 8:1.^[1]

T/A

Ultralight aircraft with a fixed seat and three-axis aerodynamic controls, with spoilers for roll control.^[1]

Data from Cliche^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Wingspan: 32 ft (9.8 m)
• Wing area: 160 sq ft (15 m²)
• Empty weight: 227 lb (103 kg)
• Gross weight: 500 lb (227 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 3.3 U.S. gallons (12 L; 2.7 imp gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 277 single cylinder, two-stroke aircraft engine

Performance

• Maximum speed: 50 mph (80 km/h, 43 kn)
• Cruise speed: 45 mph (72 km/h, 39 kn)
• Stall speed: 17 mph (27 km/h, 15 kn)
• Range: 70 mi (110 km, 61 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,000 m)
• g limits: +4/-3 (tested)
• Maximum glide ratio: 8:1 at 28 mph (45 km/h)
• Rate of climb: 600 ft/min (3.0 m/s)
• Rate of sink: 270 ft/min (1.4 m/s)

• Photo of a Teratorn T/A landing