Photograph:
Prototype Skytek Maverick VH-JOX (c/n W132) at Mangalore, VIC in April 1998 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Australia
Description:
Single-seat high-performance sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 75 kw (100 hp) Ellison converted Continental O-200 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 5.79 m (19 ft)
- Length: 5.45 m (17 ft 9 in)
- Height: 1.82 m (6 ft)
- Cruising speed at 3,050 m (10,000 ft): 278 km/h (173 mph)
- Stalling speed (clean): 101 km/h (63 mph)
- Max rate of climb at sea level: 366 m/min (1,200 ft/min)
- Endurance: 4 hrs 30 mins
- Empty weight: 300 kg (661 lb)
- Loaded weight: 476 kg (1,050 lb)
History:
The Maverick was designed by Graham Swannel and manufactured by Skytek Australia Pty Ltd of Willeton, WA. Funded by that Company, it was aimed at the homebuilt market, the design philosophy being to develop a single-seat aerobatic aircraft using composites with a certified power plant and able to cruise at 150 knots cross-country. The prototype VH-JOX (c/n W132) was flown for the first time by Geoffrey Danes on 24 December 1987, and subsequently received a Development Certificate of Airworthiness, in July 1988 receiving a Certificate in the amateur construction category.
Of conventional appearance, control was by a side-stick. The aircraft was fully aerobatic, and design load limits were +6G to –3G. Power plant was the 75 kw (100 hp) Continental O-200, but for unlimited aerobatics an 86 kw (115 hp) unit could be installed. Construction was of lightweight materials, fibreglass, foam, epoxy resins, and some carbon fibre. Wing loading was 17.4 lb/sq ft; power loading was 9.0 lbs/sq ft; and baggage capacity was 22.7 kg (50 lb). At the time of publication only one example had been completed. The aircraft has also been known as the Paleto Maverick.