Arctic Aircraft Arctic Tern

The Arctic Aircraft Arctic Tern (named after the bird) is a bush plane that was produced in small numbers in Alaska in the 1970s and 1980s. It is a strengthened and modernised version of the Interstate Cadet of the 1940s. It is a high-wing braced monoplane with fixed tailwheel undercarriage. It has two seats in tandem, with the rear seat removable for added cargo carriage. It is also provided with a cargo loading door in the fuselage side to facilitate loading bulky items. Optional fittings included floats or skis in place of the wheeled undercarriage, and a ventral pod to carry extra cargo or fuel.

Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern with tundra tires on mainwheels
General information
Manufacturer	Arctic Aircraft
Designer	Bill Diehl
Number built	32
History
Manufactured	1975-85
First flight	1975

In 2007, the Interstate Aircraft company was planning a revised and updated Arctic Tern, with US FAA certification expected in the first half of the year.

Specifications (landplane)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89

General characteristics

• Crew: one pilot
• Capacity: 1 passenger
• Length: 23 ft 0 in (7.01 m)
• Wingspan: 36 ft 8 in (11.18 m)
• Height: 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
• Wing area: 186 sq ft (17.3 m²)
• Empty weight: 1,073 lb (487 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,900 lb (862 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-320 four-cylinder piston engine , 150 hp (112 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 117 mph (188 km/h, 102 kn)
• Range: 652 mi (1,049 km, 567 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 19,000 ft (5,790 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,275 ft/min (6.5 m/s)

See also

Related development

• Interstate Cadet

Further reading

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 73.
• World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 889 Sheet 74.
• Simpson, R. W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. p. 406.