Photograph:
German registered Ikarus C-22 Fox D-MTBK (Author’s collection)
Country of origin:
Switzerland
Description:
Single-seat light sport ultralight aircraft
Power Plant:
One 48 kw (64 hp) Hirth two-cylinder, rotary valve, liquid-cooled engine with gear reduction drive
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10 m (32 ft 8 in)
- Length: 4.56 m (14 ft 11 in)
- Never exceed speed: 111 km/h (69 mph)
- Cruising speed: 91 km/h (56 mph)
- Stalling speed: 43 km/h (26 mph)
- Rate of climb: 213 m/min (700 ft/min)
- Take-off distance over 15 m (50 ft) obstacle: 200 m (656 ft)
- Landing distance over 15 m (50ft) obstacle: 200 m (656 ft)
- Empty weight: 204 kg (450 lb)
- Loaded weight: 390 kg (860 lb)
History:
The Ikarus C-22 Fox ultralight was designed by Hans Gigax in 1982 and was first imported to this region from Switzerland in early 1985 by the Australian distributor at Bondi, NSW, the first order being for ten aircraft. The early production aircraft were powered by a 16.4 kw (22 hp) Hirth two-cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled engine but once the Rotax series became available most were fitted with the Rotax 532 engine.
Similar to ultralight aircraft of its time, the Fox met ANO 95-10 regulations and had a high wing with the pilot in a capsule underneath. The engine was mounted in front of the wing, and the aircraft had a tricycle undercarriage. It was transportable on the roof of a car or dismantled for storage. It had conventional three axis control. It was said it would take half an hour to assemble after opening the shipping crate.
The type was very popular in Europe and many are still flying in Germany and Switzerland. An example registered in Australia under Recreational Aviation Australia (RAA) Regulations was a Model C-22B 24-4951 (c/n 9405-3591 – ex PH-2P9).