Photograph:
Brand JB-2 prototype 10-1450 (c/n 12) at Avalon, VIC in 2005 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Australia
Description:
Single-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 48 kw (65 hp) Rotax 582 two-cylinder, two-stroke, liquid-cooled electronic dual-ignition engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.4 m (27 ft 5 in)
- Wingspan [Aerobatic aircraft] 7.6 m (24 ft 9 in)
- Length: 6 m (18 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 10.75 m² (115.7 sq ft)
- Max speed: 178 km/h (110 mph)
- Cruising speed: 113 km/h (70 mph)
- Stalling speed: 45 km/h (28 mph)
- Rate of climb: 122 m/min (400 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 1,500 m (4,921 ft)
- Fuel capacity: 35 litres (7.7 Imp gals)
- Range: 500 km (311 miles)
- Take-off run: 120 m (394 ft)
- Landing run: 100 m (328 ft)
- Empty weight: 185 kg (408 lb)
- Useful load: 115 kg (254 lb)
- Loaded weight: 300 kg (661 lb)
History:
The Brand JB-2 was designed by Melbourne designer, Rolf Brand, as a light sport aircraft aimed at the homebuilder and sports aviation enthusiast. It was a simple-to-build aircraft with a wood framework, the cockpit being built of composites, and utilised what was called a concentric propulsion system (SCAT) which was developed by Leaders International Corporation in the USA.
The wing was of wood construction, with a composite leading-edge. The wing initially fitted was found to be too heavy and a new wing was designed and installed. The cockpit was moulded from Kevlar and had the seat moulded into it. The engine was mounted behind the cockpit and wings, and in front of the tail, with the propeller rotating around the fuselage. The designer claimed that this resulted in improved aerodynamic efficiency and thrust.
Two wings were available, one with a wingspan of 8.4 m (27 ft 5 in) for general aviation; and another with a wingspan of 7.6 m (24 ft 9 in) for aerobatics. The aircraft was stressed to +6/-3G.
The propulsion system received the most innovative design award at the Sun ‘n Fun Fly-in held by the EAA in Florida in the United States in 2003.
A variety of power plants could be installed, ranging in power from 20 kw (27 hp) to 63 kw (85 hp). The aircraft was to be made available in kit form to amateur builders. In March 2005 it was announced that the aircraft could be built in China and supplied as a kit to builders.
The designer also proposed a two-seat aircraft of similar configuration known as the JBX-1.
The prototype JB-2, registered under AUF /RAA Regulations 10-1450 , was built at Camberwell, VIC, and was first flown at Mangalore, VIC in January 1995.