Photograph:
Rag Wing Special Bipe ZK-POP (c/n RWS086) at Rangiora, New Zealand in January 2009 (NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-seat light sport biplane
Power Plant:
One 31 kw (41.6 hp) Rotax 447 UL-2V two-cylinder, two-stroke, fan-cooled electronic single-ignition engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 5.48 m (18 ft)
- Length: 4.41 m (14 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 11.14 m² (120 sq ft)
- Max speed: 101 km/h (63 mph)
- Max cruising speed: 97 km/h (60 mph)
- Stalling speed: 42 km/h (26 mph)
- Rate of climb: 229 m/min (750 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 3,048 m (10,000 ft)
- Take-off run: 46 m (150 ft)
- Landing run: 76 m (250 ft)
- Range: 145 km (90 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 19 litres (4.16 imp gals)
- Empty weight: 113 kg (250 lb)
- Loaded weight: 238 kg (525 lb)
History:
The Special biplane was designed and made available to the amateur builder by Rag Wing Aircraft Designers of Belton, South Carolina, USA and wass a low powered aircraft similar in configuration to the Pitts S-1. Designed to create a relatively fast machine for cross-country flying it was very small and powered by relatively small engines. It was inexpensive to build in its general design and structural details and only simple tools were necessary for completion. It was reported to handle well in the air and the wing was able to be folded for storage.
A number of engines may be installed, those recommended by the manufacturers including the Rotax 277, Rotax 447, Rotax 503, Hirth F-23 or 2703, and the Mosler. However, examples have been built with Kawasaki, two-cylinder Volkswagen conversions, and four-cylinder Volkswagens. One has a three-cylinder Chevrolet Sprint engine. A couple of examples have been built in this region and examples registered on the RAA register include 10-3977 and 10-4118. In New Zealand examples include ZK-POP (c/n RWS086) first registered in February 2005.