Piper PA-8 Sky Cycle
Carlson Aircraft Sky Cycle

The Piper Skycycle of 1946 was a serious effort by a major manufacturer to develop a single-seat sport plane. The only prototype flew in 1947. The prototype fuselage was made from a surplus F4U Corsair dropable fuel tank made for a figher aircraft. The rear was an aluminum tube.The sale price was $999.

The single prototype, NX47Y, was destroyed in a fire at Johnstown PA Vocational School in 1948.

An adaptation of the Piper Skycycle was later marketed by Carlson Aircraft Inc as a kit for $13,900 US.

Carlson Aircraft Skycycle
Engine: Continental, 65 hp
Height: 5.1 ft
Length: 15.85 ft
Wing span: 20 ft
Wing area: 95 sq.ft
Weight empty: 295 lb
Gross: 925 lb
Fuel cap: 8 USG
Speed max: 109 mph
Cruise: 100 mph
Range: 200 sm
Stall: 37 mph
ROC: 875 fpm
Take-off dist: 375 ft
Landing dist: 400 ft
Seats: 1
Landing gear: tail wheel