Gull 2000, Earthstar Aircraft, Part 103 Ultralight Aircraft, 2022 Ultralight Aircraft Buyers Guide.

Design (With Rotax 503)
Cosmetic appearance, structural integrity, achievement of design goals, effectiveness of aerodynamics, ergonomics.

Pros – Few ultralights inspire me more than the Thunder Gull line and the Gull 2000 is the “best of breed” in my opinion. Singleseater but with more room for big pilots and more refinements than ever. Longlasting materials used in construction. Proven design over many years; even copied. Wider speed range than most aircraft (not just ultralights). Sits on all three gear.

Cons Fully enclosed, a negative for those who love outinthebreeze flying.

Systems
Pros – Wellequipped ultralight with inflight trim, flaps, and differential brakes all standard; all these systems worked excellently. Flap handle is close yet nonintrusive.

Cons – Trim knob is better than older models, but is still counterintuitive to use. No trim position indicator. Fueling is done inside the Gull 2000 – unless you remove the tank, itself a hassle – and some fumes were noticeable. Panel space is minimal if you must add more instruments or radios. Heel brakes aren’t every pilot’s favorite.

Cockpit/Cabin
Instrumentation; Ergonomics of controls; Creature comforts; (items covered may be optional).
Pros – Easier entry than older singleseat Gull models, thanks to a door that extends both lower and higher. Beautifully appointed interior; a carpet kit is available. Excellent use of interior space makes it seem larger; big pilots will fit quite easily. Superb visibility out either side and forward. Good seat belt restraint. Comfortable seating for longer flights.

Cons – Rearward visibility no better than many other enclosed ultralights. Baggage area is quite limited (though Beierle flies across America in the Gull 2000, he’s a minimalist). Left side door only. No quick seat adjustment.

Ground Handling
Taxi visibility; Steering; Turn radius; Shock absorption; Stance/Stability; Braking.

Pros – Low stance, good weight distribution, and trailing link nosewheel make for easy ground handling. Nosewheel has some suspension, thanks to fiberglass rods. Wide aluminum Hegar tires ($240 option) gave excellent grip. Excellent nosewheel response; extra weight up front surely helps. Turns very tightly. Taxi visibility is very good.

Cons – Clearance could be an issue if you land out in an especially rough field. Main gear is not suspended except via air in the tire and gear leg flex. Heel brakes can be “dragged” without realizing your error. It gets warm inside this (optional) full enclosure, at least until air inlets start working.

Takeoff/Landing
Qualities; Efficiency; Ease; Comparative values.

Pros – Jumps off the ground with the best of them; factory says only 125 feet is needed (with Rotax 503). Gull 2000 slows beautifully for landings in smaller areas; factory reports 75 feet with brake use. Crosswinds are only a problem if your skills are new or rusty. Slips work well, as do the large flaps. Good energy retention means smoother touchdowns.

Cons – Smoother runways are much preferred as ground clearance is less than some ultralights. Except for a warm cabin in hot weather, I found no other negatives in this category.

Performance
Climb; Glide; Sink; Cruise/stall/max speeds; Endurance; Range; Maneuverability.

Pros – The widest speed range I can recall in any aircraft; Beierle claims a stall of 26 mph – I could not accurately verify – and a Vne of 120 mph for an astounding 4.6:1 ratio (most designers would be delighted to hit 4:1). Climb rate is a breathtaking 1,500 fpm with the Rotax 503. Design also flies nicely at slow speeds. Can carry more than it weighs.

Cons – Honest, I tried, and I couldn’t come up with any performance shortcomings. Performance will be more modest if you stay within Part 103 (which is possible), as you must use a much less powerful engine.

Stability
Stall recovery and characteristics; Dampening; Spiral stability; Adverse yaw qualities.

Pros – Beierle calls his machines “stall and spinresistant” and I’d basically agree (though very aggressive use of controls could compromise this statement). Factory reports stall at 26 mph though I could not verify this fact; my stall experience was at 2829 mph though this is still very slow. A beginner can certainly handle the Gull 2000 if he or she pays attention.

Cons – The Gull 2000 looks like it flies hotter than it does and this may mislead some buyers (though I doubt they’d be disappointed). Adverse yaw is present though it didn’t last long. Power changes cause minor adverse reaction. Longitudinal stability was slightly negative as is common on most ultralights with the engine mounted high on the airframe.

www.bydanjohnson.com
www.thundergull.com
www.ultralightflyer.com