Photograph:
Aviasud Sirocco G-MNRT at the Newark Air Museum in the United Kingdom (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
France
Description:
Single-seat ultralight sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 26 kw (35 hp) Rotax 377 two-cylinder, in-line, geared, air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.12 m (33 ft 2 in)
- Length: 5.85 m (19 ft 2 in)
- Height: 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 13.1 m² (141 sq ft)
- Max cruising speed: 80 km/h (50 mph)
- Economical cruising speed: 94 km/h (59 mph)
- Stalling speed: 41 km/h (25 mph)
- Rate of climb: 305 m/min (1,000 ft/min)
- Fuel capacity: 40 litres (8.8 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 130 kg (287 lb)
- Loaded weight: 248 kg (547 lb)
History:
The Aviasud Sirocco was a French designed high-wing braced monoplane with a pusher engine. The fuselage was constructed from fibreglass and polyester, was streamlined, and could be fully enclosed or built with an open cockpit and windscreen. The constant chord foldable swept-back wing was double-surfaced and it had a MacCready TK7315 aerofoil section. Undercarriage was of fibreglass and of tricycle configuration with a steerable nosewheel. The Sirocco was the first ultralight aircraft to be flown around the world as noted below.
In 1989 production was transferred to Aeriane in Belgium; and in 2007 rights to manufacture were obtained by Aero Consult Light Aircraft, this company carrying out some re-design of the tailplane and wings and the new model becoming the Sirocco NG. This model was first flown as a prototype in May 2009 and became available in kit form or in FAR-103 fully completed form. Engines available included the Koenig 43ORD providing 18 kw (24 hp) up to the 30 kw (40 hp) Rotax 447.
The Sirocco was marketed in Australia in the 1980s by Cloud 9 Flight Systems of Essendon, VIC and examples were registered with the RAA under ANO 95-101. Aviasud also produced an ultralight aircraft known as the Mistral, which was a biplane trainer. Examples registered in Australia included 10-1019 (c/n not known) fitted with a Rotax 377 engine, registered on 5 September 1988; 10-0793 (c/n 10-793) fitted with a Rotax 377 engine, registered on 29 July 1988; and 10-0219 noted at Serpentine, WA registered on 14 June 1988, with a Rotax 377 engine. It is believed a couple of others have been built but not registered.
Between 26 September 1984 and 26 March 1987 French pilot Patrice Franceschi in a Sirocco fitted with a Rotax 377 engine flew around the world visiting 33 countries in a total time of 562 hours, travelling from France to Dakar in Senegal, to Brazil, to the west coast of the United States, through Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh and India, and finally via Oman back to to France. The aircraft required shipping by sea freight in between the longer distances, the aircraft finally being placed on display in the Musee Delta Athis Paray Aviation in Paris.