Photograph:
Steen Skybolt VH-DDO (c/n V48) at Morwell, VIC in April 1980 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light sport biplane
Power Plant:
One 134 kw (180 hp) Lycoming HO-360-B1B four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan (upper): 7.32 m (24 ft)
- Wingspan (lower): 7.01 m (23 ft)
- Length: 5.79 m (19 ft)
- Height: 2.13 m (7 ft)
- Wing area: 14.2 m² (152.7 sq ft)
- Max speed: 233 km/h (145 mph)
- Cruising speed: 209 km/h (130 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 762 m/min (2,500 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 5,500 m (18,000 ft)
- Stalling speed: 80 km/h (50 mph)
- Range: 720 km (450 miles)
- Empty weight: 490 kg (1,080 lb)
- Loaded weight: 762 kg (1,680 lb)
History:
Mr Lamar Steen designed the Skybolt with simplicity of construction as the main aim. A two-seat fully-aerobatic biplane, it was designed to be constructed by amateur constructors. Mr Steen, a teacher of aeronautics and aircraft construction at the Denver University in Colorado, USA, supervised the construction of the prototype Skybolt by his students, and this aircraft later received the Experimental Aircraft Association’s award for Best School Project at an EAA event at Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
More than 450 examples have been completed and have been registered in the US. The prototype first flew in October 1970 and was said to give a spirited performance on a 134 kw (180 hp) Lycoming HO-360-B1B engine.
The aircraft was constructed of wood. The biplane wings were braced with two-spars and covered with fabric. The fuselage was of conventional welded steel-tube construction with fabric covering. A fixed undercarriage of the tailwheel type was installed. The prototype was flown for the first time in October 1970 and was stressed to +12 and –10 G.
The type has proved popular with amateur builders, a number appearing on the Australian register over the years. First completed in Australia VH-BTR (c/n S5) flew for the first time on 1 December and others registered include VH-DDO (c/n V48), VH-SOD (c/n V51), VH-UZZ (c/n N101), VH-JOL (c/n V64 – ex VH-SPT), and VH-JIG (c/n N70).
A number of Skybolts have been registered in New Zealand, including ZK-TSB (c/n AACA/438), ZK-RSC (c/n AACA/441) and ZK-JET (c/n AACA/570).