Photograph:
BX Aviation Cherry F-PCHB (c/n 141) in France (BX Aviation)
Country of origin:
Switzerland
Description:
Two-seat light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 48 kw (65 hp) Continental A-65 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 7 m (22 ft 10 in)
- Length: 7 m (22 ft 10 in)
- Height: 2.02 m (6 ft 7 in)
- Wing area: 8.5 m² (91.49 sq ft)
- Never exceed speed: 275 km/h (171 mph)
- Max speed: 219 km/h (136 mph)
- Cruising speed: 200 km/h (124 mph)
- Stalling speed with flaps: 85 km/h (53 mph)
- Rate of climb: 180 m/min (590 ft/min)
- Range: 1,254 km (779 miles)
- Take-off run: 290 m (950 ft)
- Landing run: 150 m (492 ft)
- Empty weight: 315 kg (694 lb)
- Loaded weight: 550 kg (1,213 lb)
History:
The BX Aviation Cherry BX-2 was a light two-seat, side-by-side, amateur-built sport aircraft designed by Max Brandli of BX Aviation in Switzerland. Of composite construction it used timber, Styrofoam, fibreglass and epoxy, having a retractable tricycle undercarriage, the wings being quickly removable for storage or trailering. The main undercarriage was made of timber and had hydraulic brakes applied by a lever. The canopy opened forward and the rudder was cable-controlled, the elevator and ailerons being controlled by rods.
A number of engines could be installed, including the Continental A-65, Rotax 912, Jabiru 2200 and BMW R1100S. The aircraft was designed to meet the American FAR 23 Regulations, which were also valid in Switzerland. The prototype (HB-YBX) was registered in Switzerland in the Experimental category and by early 2006 had flown over 2,000 hours. All necessary drawings and material specifications were provided by the designer.
A number have been built around the world, particularly in Europe, and at least one was imported to Australia. One was under construction at Jannali, NSW in 1998 and work commenced on the construction of another in Queensland, the latter to be fitted with a BMW R1100S engine providing 73 kw (98 hp). It is not known if either aircraft has been completed.