3 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
what is it?
The Birdman Chinook is a family of single and two-place, pusher configuration, high-wing ultralight aircraft that was first flown on 12 December 1982 and produced by Birdman Enterprises of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, starting in 1983. The Chinook design has evolved through several models over time, and has been produced by two companies. Over 850 in total have been completed and flown, and kits remain in production in the 21st century.
How to recognise it: 1 engine · 10.7 m wingspan
base stats
Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).
fun facts
- First flew 44 years ago, in 1982.
- Wingspan of 10.7 m: about 2 cars parked nose to tail.
spec sheet
- first flight
- 1982-12-12
- introduced
- 1983
- status
- in production
- number built
- 1,100
- role
- ultralight aircraft
- origin
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- makers
- Birdman Enterprises
- engines
- 1× Rotax 277
- length
- 5.3 m
- wingspan
- 10.7 m
- height
- 1.8 m
- max take-off weight
- 283 kg
- top speed
- 97 km/h
- cruise speed
- 81 km/h
- range
- 324 km
- ceiling
- 4,575 m
Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q4916020, Wikipedia: Birdman Chinook (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-24.