Ultravia Aero International Pelican Pl

Single Piston

The Ultravia Pelican is a Canadian-designed ultralight and light-sport aircraft that has carved out a niche among recreational pilots seeking an affordable, easy-to-fly taildragger with excellent short-field performance. Built by Ultravia Aero International in Quebec since the mid-1990s, the Pelican features a high-wing configuration with strut bracing, tube-and-fabric construction, and a conventional landing gear arrangement that makes it well-suited to grass strips and backcountry operations. Powered by Rotax two-stroke engines in the 50-65 horsepower range, the Pelican achieves a maximum gross weight under 1,000 pounds, allowing it to qualify as an ultralight in Canada and a special light-sport aircraft in the United States. The type's defining characteristic is its remarkably low stall speed (around 30 knots with flaps deployed), which gives pilots exceptional slow-flight handling and the ability to operate from strips as short as 300 feet. The Pelican's cruise speed of approximately 70-75 knots and never-exceed speed of 100 knots place it firmly in the leisurely end of the recreational aviation spectrum, but its docile handling and forgiving flight characteristics have made it popular with student pilots and those transitioning to tailwheel aircraft. The open cockpit or enclosed cabin variants offer flexibility for different climates and pilot preferences. SkyMeter has tracked 3 flights across 1 airframes and 1 operators, with HOLLINGSWORTH ROBERT D the largest observed operator.