Photograph:
American Aircraft Falcon XP ZK-JGL (c/n 60070) at Masterton, NZ (NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single or two-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 34 kw (45 hp) Rotax 503 two-cylinder, two-stroke, fan-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.97 m (36 ft)
- Length: 4.34 m (14 ft 2 in)
- Max cruising speed: 88 km/h (55 mph)
- Rate of climb: 244 m/min (800 ft/min)
- Ceiling: 4,572 m (15,000 ft)
- Take-off run: 46 m (150 ft)
- Landing run: 27 m (90 ft)
- Fuel capacity: 19 litres (4.17 Imp gals)
- Range: 444 km (276 miles)
- Empty weight: 115 kg (254 lb)
- Useful load: 112 kg (246 lb)
- Loaded weight: 227 kg (500 lb)
History:
The Falcon was designed in the United States and produced by American Aircraft Inc of Albuquerque, New Mexico.It was produced in single and two-seat variants. It has also been known as the American Aerolites Falcon and the Viper Falcon. The Falcon was basically a development of the Electra Flyer hang glider which, when fitted with a tricycle undercarriage, initially became known as the Eagle. Development led to three-axis control and two seats, and in 1983 the Falcon was launched with a streamlined fuselage pod and strut-braced wing.
Engine in the single-seat Falcon UL was a 21 kw (28 hp) Rotax 277 single-cylinder two stroke unit. It was also, in the XP Model, the two-seat variant, available with a 34 kw (45 hp) Rotax 503 engine.
The aircraft had a composite fuselage with strut-braced wings built from aluminium and covered in doped aircraft fabric. The wing-tip rudders and the canard were also fabric covered. The main undercarriage was equipped with hydraulic disc brakes and it could be disassembled for transport or storage. Advertising stated the aircraft was spin proof.
In later years it has been produced in Edmonton, Alberta in Canada as the Falconar ARV-1 K or L Golden Hawk, being of tandem two-seat configuration with a tricycle undercarriage, power plant being the 41 kw (55 hp) Hirth 2703. It is said some 4,200 Eagles, 1,604 Falcon ultralights, and 465 XP two-seaters have been delivered during its production life.
A number of examples were completed in this region, one survivor being Falcon XP (known as a Viper Aircraft Falcon) ZK-JGL which was first registered in New Zealand on 15 February 1996. Another example was registered ZK-JHB to its owner at Christchurch on 14 November 1996 but was retired in October 2000.
A few examples were registered in Australia under RAA Regulations and the type has been marketed by Austflight of Ballina, NSW.