Fun people and fun planes probably always went together, but when you run into the Hurricane staff, you’ll better understand the combination. The Southern California manufacturer and crew apparently enjoy what they’re doing. They smile a lot and want to go fly their Hurricanes at the drop of a hat. All that pleasure shows up in an airplane that’s fun to buy, build, and fly.
Flying may be the best part. The Hurricane, deriving as it does from solid predecessors like the Phantom and Avenger, has refined the special form of ultralight flying to an art form. The Hurricanes typify ultralight aircraft to many folks, both pilots and first-airshow spectators. Open but protected from the wind by a high quality fairing and screen, the Hurricane preserves that wide-open feeling that gives the comfort of an enclosed cabin.
Though the handling is snappy enough for factory pilots to put the Hurricanes through some aerobatic paces, they also fly with well behaved manners. Easy and completely conventional control systems are one of the more endearing qualities of all the Hurricanes. That boss Don Eccker and his group made their two seater fly nicely as well confirms their understanding of this venerable design shape.
Maybe the best news about Hurricanes involves the low prices. Value conscious buyers will delight in single place machines for $7-8,000, complete with engine. These aren’t stripped-down aircraft; they come with many of the most desirable features as standard. The Hurricane II sells for $11,500 with the liquid cooled 582, a bargain price for a quality two seater. Eccker and the Hurricane team have created a great-flying two seater version of their popular single seater.
Hurricane was featured in the November 1994 and September 1992 issues.
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