Photograph:
An American registered Advanced Aviation Cobra (Author’s collection)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-seat [Cobra] and two-seat [King Cobra] light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 22 kw (30 hp) Cuyuna 430RR two-cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.74 m (35 ft 2 in)
- Length: 5.33 m (17 ft 4 in)
- Economical cruising speed: 80 km/h (49 mph)
- Stalling speed: 39 km/h (24 mph)
- Fuel capacity: 19 litres (4.1 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 107 kg (236 lb)
History:
The Cobra was a high-wing, wire-braced, ultralight monoplane produced in the United States and marketed in Australia by Ultralight Flying Machines of North Balwyn, VIC, being able to meet ANO 95.10 regulations. It had an engine in a pusher configuration mounted above the mainplane between the twin tail booms. All flying surfaces were double-surface Dacron, the wing having half-span spoilers for roll control. The trailing-edge was notched between each rib to give a ‘batwing’ impression.
A two-seat variant known as the King Cobra was also made available, seating two side-by-side. It had dual flying and engine controls, and was suitable for instructional work. In both variants the nosewheel was steerable. Most examples were fitted with the Cuyuna 430RR two-stroke, two-cylinder, engine which was a conversion of the engine used in Snowmobiles in North America.
Examples registered in Australia included 19-0731 and 10-0997, the latter being registered on 20 December 1996 and being fitted with a Rotax 447 engine.