The Aviadesign A-16 Sport Falcon is an American light-sport aircraft that was designed by Aviadesign, a certified aircraft modification company based in Camarillo, California. The A-16 was announced at Sun 'n Fun April 2006 and introduced at the LSA Expo held in Sebring, Florida in 2007. The aircraft was to be supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1][2][3][4][5]
| A-16 Sport Falcon | |
|---|---|
| Role | Light-sport aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Aviadesign |
| First flight | 2006 |
| Introduction | 2007 |
| Status | Production completed |
| Number built | 2 |
Jane's Information Group reports that two prototypes were completed by 2006, but it is not clear if any other examples ever flew before the company went out of business.[3]
Design and development
editThe aircraft was designed to comply with the US light-sport aircraft rules. It features a strut-braced high-wing, a two-seats-in-tandem enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1][2]
The aircraft is made with a welded steel tubing airframe. Its 29 ft (8.8 m) span wing employs a single strut per side. The standard engine for production examples was intended to be the 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS four-stroke powerplant. Entry to the cockpit is via an airstair door.[1][2]
The design is listed on the Federal Aviation Administration's list of accepted SLSAs, but as no longer in production.[6]
Operational history
editIn March 2010 reviewer Dan Johnson reported on a test flight in the prototype:
the interior is spacious and comfortable, more so than many other LSAs; handling is predictable with no bad traits I could uncover; the airplane is well equipped and expects to have a price somewhere in the $110,000 range, though this decision is still being reviewed; visibility is enormous, with the pilot sitting about 4 feet in front of the wing; even the aft seat has good room, very good visibility, and full controls — it turns out my smoothest landings were from the rear.[5]
Specifications (A-16)
editGeneral characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Length: 27 ft (8.2 m)
- Wingspan: 28 ft 10 in (8.8 m)
- Wing area: 130 sq ft (12 m2)
- Empty weight: 739 lb (335 kg)
- Gross weight: 1,232 lb (559 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 80 litres (18 imp gal; 21 US gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912ULS four cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 101 hp (75 kW)
- Propellers: 3-bladed Prince Aircraft composite
Performance
- Maximum speed: 140 mph (220 km/h, 120 kn)
- Cruise speed: 121 mph (195 km/h, 105 kn)
- Stall speed: 45 mph (72 km/h, 39 kn)
- Range: 450 mi (720 km, 390 nmi)
- g limits: +4/-2
- Rate of climb: 980 ft/min (5 m/s)
- Wing loading: 9.55 lb/sq ft (46.6 kg/m2)
References
edit- ^ a b c d Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 30. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
- ^ a b c Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 32. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
- ^ a b Jane's Information Group (2009). "Aviadesign A-16 Sport Falcon (United States), Aircraft - Fixed-wing - Civil". Retrieved May 9, 2012.
- ^ Experimental Aircraft Association (January 15, 2007). "Bigger and better: Sebring's third LSA expo a rousing success". Retrieved May 9, 2012.
- ^ a b Johnson, Dan (March 18, 2010). "New tandem LSA headed to market". General Aviation News. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
- ^ Federal Aviation Administration (March 3, 2015). "SLSA Make/Model Directory". Archived from the original on May 16, 2013. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^ Skytamer (2011). "Aviadesign A-16 Sport Falcon two-seat light sport aircraft". Retrieved May 9, 2012.