Photograph:
Ibis Aircraft GS-700 Magic 24-7125 (c/n GS-05-08-700-68) at Temora, NSW in April 2010 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Colombia
Description:
Two-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 75 kw (100 hp) Rotax 912UL four-cylinder horizontally-opposed liquid-and-air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.93 m (29 ft 3 in)
- Length: 6.85 m (22 ft 5 in)
- Height: 2.16 m (7 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 12.39 m² (133.4 sq ft)
- Max speed: 193 km/h (120 mph)
- Cruising speed: 185 km/h (115 mph)
- Stalling speed no flaps: 78 km/h (48 mph)
- Stalling speed with flaps: 57 km/h (36 mph)
- Rate of climb: 305 m/min (1,000 ft/min)
- Take-off distance over 15 m (50 ft) obstacle: 80 m (262 ft)
- Landing roll: 33 m (108 ft)
- Service ceiling: 3,658 m (12,000 ft)
- Range: 563 km (350 miles)
- Endurance: 3 hrs 30 mins
- Empty weight: 320 kg (705 lb)
- Useful load: 250 kg (551 lb)
- Loaded weight: 570 kg (1,257 lb)
History:
The GS-240 was an all-metal, high-wing, two-seat, light, sport aircraft built by IBIS Aircraft. Built to the specifications and performance required by the American Light Sport Aircraft category, it was made available on the United States market in “Quick-build kit” form, which met the 51 per cent rule, and also permitted the aircraft to be registered in the Experimental (Amateur-built) category. The manufacturer stated the aircraft could be completed in a reasonably short building time by the constructor, with most aspects of fabrication and assembly being completed in the factory. This model was followed by the GS-340, which in turn was developed to the GS-700. Standard power plant was a Rotax, using the 60 kw (80 hp), 75 kw (100 hp) and 86 kw (115 hp) turbocharged models driving a three-blade IVO propeller.
The Company, IBIS Aircraft SA, was formed in 1990 and was located in Jamundi, Valle de Cauca, Colombia, South America. It had its facility near the Cauca River, having a manufacturing facility and a landing strip, producing 100 aircraft per year. Other types produced by the Company have included the Magic GS-710S Sport and Urraco, and it has supplied aircraft all over the world.
First of the type in this region was imported by the Australasian agent, this being registered in 2009 under Recreational Aviation Australia (RAA) Regulations as 24-7125 (c/n GS-05-08-700-68) , this aircraft being sold in New Zealand in 2011 where it became ZK-MGC in September 2011. Further Australian aircraft became 24-7555 (c/n GS-12-09-700-96) and 24-7556 (c/n GS-12-09-700-95).