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Astonishing new Microlight/LSA just certified in Europe


IrishAl

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This aircraft is similar in size & layout to an RV12, but it's very different, too.   Just look at these specs!

 

Rotax 100 iS engine

Weight (with BRS) 655lbs

Retractable undercarriage.

Top speed S&L 302km/h (around 160kts)

75% power: 150kts.

+12g/-8g fully aerobatic.

Vne 400km/h  (216kts)  

Green arc goes to about 160kts.

Stall (dirty) 35kts.

49" (approx) cabin.

37gals fuel

 

LSA version planned.

 

The microlight version with fixed gear has just been type certified in Sweden and I believe production is sold out for the foreseeable future.

 

They are also putting a 140hp 912ULS (developed in Norway) into it for an experimental kit that will make better use of the available performance envelope.  

 

It's called the Blackwing - 

http://www.blackwing.aero

 

Makes for very interesting reading!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Looks kind of like vaporware to me.  Do they have one flying?  2000nm range on 36 gallons with a 912iS?  Not without some kind of hyperspace drive...

Vaporware - that's a new word for my vocabulary.  Thanks.

 

And yes, I agree that it does seem more 'theoretical' and 'wannabee' than tried and tested product - it all sounds a bit too good to be true.

 

Yet, it does seem to have considerable substance behind it - the prototype has clocked hundreds of test hours, the design has been finalized and 001 is flying with Type Certification to boot.  It completed a tour of Europe a few months ago and has several major magazine articles acclaiming it.

 

The most surprising thing about it is that the whole project seems to be just a few guys in a shed having lots of fun with a CNC machine and an autoclave.  It is quite astonishing what can be achieved with today's modern technology and no corporate shackles.  I love it!

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in Canada,,,there is also a very fast ULTRALIGHT

http://www.blackshapeaircraft.com/en/leisure/blackshape-prime-ls-version.html

 

3 registered in Canada

 

strangely that plane seems a copy of the 'original'  Shark

 

http://www.shark.aero/index.php?lang=en

 

and an other 'copy' also exit

 

http://www.tarragonaircraft.com/en/overview/

 

very active 'designers' in Europe

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Question:

 

All these new carbon fibre models, as listed above, are made using 'prepreg' carbon, which makes them exceptionally light and exceptionally strong.

 

Anybody care to explain the difference between prepreg and the more traditional carbon offerings?

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Prepreg just means it was ordered from the factory with the epoxy in it. You can make your own prepreg by putting the fabric & epoxy between two sheets of plastic and squeegeeing around the epoxy and working out the excess.

 

The other method is wet layup, which means you apply the epoxy and fabric in place.

 

I prefer prepreg, because I can do a few things with it:

 

  • Trace a template on the plastic sheet for odd shapes.
  • Cut out template using a fabric cutting wheel, faster and easier than scissors.
  • Peel only one side of plastic, which makes it much easier to keep from distorting the fabric during layup, then stick and peel off the other side, and touchup as needed.
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