Photograph:
Prototype Rotec Reliant being built at the Company’s facility in Melbourne (Rotec)
Country of origin:
Australia
Description:
Two-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 82 kw (110 hp) Rotec R-2800 seven-cylinder air-cooled radial engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.14 m (30 ft)
- Length: 5.79 m (19 ft)
- Cord: 1.21 m (4 ft)
- Wing area: 11.14 m² (120 sq ft)
- Max cruising speed: 213 km/h (132 mph)
- Economical cruising speed: 176 km/h (109 mph)
- Stalling speed: 74 km/h (46 mph)
- Endurance: 4 hours
- Fuel capacity: 100 litres (22 Imp gals)
History:
Rotec is an Australian company which is well known for its production of two radial engines for light aircraft, the seven-cylinder R-2800 and the nine-cylinder R-3600, and the production of throttle body fuel injection units and liquid-cooled heads for Jabiru engines etc. In 2011 the Company announced it would produce a scale replica of the Stinson Reliant cabin monoplane of the 1930s utilising new modern materials, ie composite construction using carbon and Kevlar.
The aircraft is to be produced as a kit in Melbourne, VIC with a steel tube cabin structure with ties, wings, engine and undercarriage provided. All structural work for the fuselage, wings, tailplane etc is to be performed by the manufacturer before shipping and the aircraft can be fitted with standard floats or amphibious floats. The cabin is 116.8 cm wide (46 in) and the wings are stressed to +8 / -6 G. Unlike the original Reliant, no fabric covering is required. Power plants recommended for the aircraft are the Company’s two radials, the R-2800 and the R-3600.
A scale model of the Rotec Reliant was shown at the EAA AirVenture event at Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 2012 and again in 2013, the Company announcing the aircraft was extremely safe and strong. Kits would begin to be supplied to purchasers in 2013 but it is not known if any have been completed.