Photograph:
Sisler Cygnet 19-3393 (c/n 382) at Moruya, NSW in 2002 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 45 kw (60 hp) Hapi [1,834 cc] converted Volkswagen four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.14 m (30 ft)
- Length: 5.79 m (19 ft)
- Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 11.60 m² (124.8 sq ft)
- Max speed: 174 km/h (108 mph)
- Cruising speed at 2,440 m (5,000 ft): 161 km/h (100 mph)
- Stalling speed power on: 68 km/h (42 mph)
- Max rate of climb at sea level: 177 km/h (580 ft/min)
- Take-off and landing run: 213 m (700 ft)
- Range: 483 km (300 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 57 litres ((12 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 265 kg (585 lb)
- Loaded weight: 499 kg (1,100 lb)
History:
Designed by Captain A M Sisler in Minnesota in the USA, the prototype of the series, known as the SF-2 Whistler, received the “Outstanding Design Contribution” award at the 1973 Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in at Oshkosh in Wisconsin. Subsequently, the design was improved to simplify construction and make it aerodynamically cleaner. This resulted in the weight being reduced by 23 kg (50 lb). Folding wings were offered, and plans were made available by the Sisler Aircraft Company, the new aircraft being known as the SF-2A Cygnet.
In late 1983 Hapi Engines acquired the marketing rights and offered kits to amateur builders, including a pre-welded airframe kit. The wings were of all-wood construction with fabric covering. The fuselage was of welded chrome molybdenum steel tube structure with fabric covering. A fixed tailwheel undercarriage was fitted, and accommodation was for two side-by-side in an enclosed cockpit. Baggage capacity was 23 kg (50 lb). In more recent times it has been marketed by Viking Aircraft Inc of Elkhorn, Wisconsin and has been available as a plans-built aircraft only.
A few Cygnets have been built in this region, the first registered being an SF-2A Cygnet ZK-LXB (c/n AACA/361/1), completed in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1988. In May 2013 a further example was registered in New Zealand as ZK-CYG (c/n 313).
First registered in Australia was VH-XYT (c/n 362 / S-47) on 8 March 1991. It was transferred to the RAA register on 9 November 1992 as 28-0479. Others have been completed in Australia under Recreation Aviation Australia (RAA) Regulations, including 10-0981; 19-3393 (c/n 382) with a Volkswagen [1834 cc] engine registered on 4 July 2000; 19-3314 (c/n 590) with a Revmaster 2100 engine registered on 23 June 2000; and 19-3081 (c/n 1) registered on 21 December 1998.