Shark UL

The Shark UL is a ultra‑light, single‑seat motorglider developed by the Czech company Shark.Aero and first flown in 2016. Conceived as a high‑performance glider that could also operate under its own power, the aircraft emerged from a collaboration of experienced sailplane designers and ultralight engineers who wanted to combine the efficiency of a racing sailplane with the convenience of a self‑launching motor. Production began in 2017 at the company’s facility in Brno, and the type quickly earned European Microlight certification, allowing it to be operated in the sport‑pilot category across the continent.

Key features include a carbon‑fiber composite airframe, a 48‑kW Rotax 912ULS engine integrated into a retractable pylon, and a 15‑meter wingspan with a laminar flow wing profile that gives a glide ratio above 35:1. The cockpit is ergonomically designed, with a digital glass panel that provides real‑time flight data, engine monitoring, and GPS navigation. The Shark UL’s low empty weight (just under 300 kg) and high wing loading deliver excellent climb performance and agile handling.

Its significance lies in demonstrating how advanced composite technology and efficient propulsion can expand the capabilities of ultralight aviation, making self‑launching soaring more accessible to pilots without the need for tow planes or winch launches.

Shark.Aero

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