The Apollo Racer GT is a Hungarian ultralight trike, designed and produced by Apollo Ultralight Aircraft of Eger. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1]

Racer GT
Role Ultralight trike
National origin Hungary
Manufacturer Apollo Ultralight Aircraft
Status In production (2013)

Design and development

edit

The Racer GT is a simplified and lighter derivative of the Apollo Jet Star, with a simplified cockpit fairing and no engine cowling. It was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category. It features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem, open cockpit, tricycle landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in pusher configuration. The main landing gear uses strut-type suspension, rather than the leaf-type suspension used on the Apollo Delta Jet series. A nose wheel brake is standard equipment.[1][2]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its double surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. The aircraft uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplant options include the twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine and the four cylinder, air and liquid-cooled, four-stroke, dual-ignition 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912 engine.[1]

The aircraft has an empty weight of 140 kg (309 lb) and a gross weight of 430 kg (948 lb), giving a useful load of 290 kg (639 lb). With full fuel of 55 litres (12 imp gal; 15 US gal) the payload is 250 kg (551 lb).[1]

A number of different Apollo wings can be fitted to the basic carriage, including the C-15, C-15TN, C-17 and CXMD. Te Racer GT is the only aircraft built by Apollo that is approved to be fitted with floats. Optional equipment includes instructor training pedals, a hang glider towing system, ballistic parachute, windshield and main wheel brakes .[1][2]

Specifications (Racer GT)

edit

Data from Bayerl[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Wingspan: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)
  • Wing area: 15 m2 (160 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 140 kg (309 lb)
  • Gross weight: 430 kg (948 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 55 litres (12 imp gal; 15 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 582 two cylinder, liquid-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 48 kW (64 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed composite

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 140 km/h (87 mph, 76 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 100 km/h (62 mph, 54 kn)
  • Stall speed: 55 km/h (34 mph, 30 kn)
  • Rate of climb: 4 m/s (790 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 28.7 kg/m2 (5.9 lb/sq ft)

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al.: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 205. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. ^ a b Apollo Ultralight Aircraft (n.d.). "Apollo Racer GT". Retrieved 17 April 2013.
edit