Photograph:
Pipistrel Sinus 24-3877 (c/n 088S9120103) at Watts Bridge, QLD in April 2003 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Slovenia
Description:
Two-seat light sport aircraft and self launched glider
Power Plant:
One 60 kw (80 hp) Rotax 912UL four-cylinder four-stroke horizontally-opposed liquid-and-air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 14.97 m (49 ft 1 in)
- Length: 6.6 m (21 ft 8 in)
- Height: 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in)
- Cruising speed: 200 km/h (124 mph)
- Stalling speed: 63 km/h (39 mph)
- Service ceiling: 1,200 km (746 miles)
- Rate of climb: 366 m/min (1,220 ft/min)
- Range: 1,200 km (746 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 60 litres (13 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 284 kg (626 lb)
- Loaded weight: 544 kg (1,200 lb)
History:
The Sinus is one of a series of motor-gliders produced by Pipistrel in Slovenia, which has been available as a complete aircraft for some years, with over 300 examples of the series being delivered, and which in recent years has been available in kit form for the amateur builder. When registered with Recreation Aviation Australia it can be approved for training, hire or private flying; and when registered with the Gliding Federation of Australia it can be operated for general flying and training, or by private owners in a club environment.
The Sinus is built of composite materials and is said to be economical, simple to fly and simple to maintain. It is available in tailwheel or tricycle undercarriage configuration, and has an endurance of up to 7.5 hours. When gliding the propeller is feathered and the machine can be used for thermalling or slope soaring. It has a large luggage capacity and is equipped with positive and negative flaperons, and airbrakes. The main wheels have hydraulic disc brakes.
A Sinus SW model is also available, SW standing for short-wing, which produces a glide ratio of 17:1 as compared to 30:1 for the longer wing model. This model has a max cruising speed of 246 km/h (153 mph) whereas the long-wing model has a max cruise of 232 km/h (144 mph). An LSA model is available and is supplied with a three-blade fixed pitch propeller. A number have been registered under RAA regulations, including 24-3877. On 17 November 2006 a Sinus N912NW was delivered by the Australian distributor, Michael Coates, from Brisbane, QLD to Auckland, NZ.
In 2015 Pipistrel announced it had received an order from a customer to manufacture a heavy un-manned aerial vehicle for commercial use and to meet this requirement a Sinus was converted, this aircraft having endurance of 25 hours with a 40 kg (88 lb) payload, additional fuel tanks being installed in the position of the pilots’ seats, giving an additional 80 litres (17.6 Imp gals) of fuel.