Photograph:
AAK Hornet Cub 19-8260 (c/n S038) at Taree, NSW (AAK)
Country of origin:
Australia
Description:
Two-seat light touring and utility aircraft
Power Plant:
One 80 kw (100 hp) Rotax 912ULS four-cylinder horizontally-opposed liquid-and-air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.72 m (28 ft 6 in)
- Length: 6.5 m (21 ft 3 in)
- Wing area: 12.2 m² (131.31 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 157 km/h (98 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power at 1,524 m (5,000 ft): 148 km/h (92 mph)
- Stalling speed no flaps: 63 km/h (39 mph)
- Stalling speed full flaps: 54 km/h (33 mph)
- Rate of climb solo 366 m/min: (1,200 ft/min)
- Rate of climb at max take-off weight: 274 m/min (900 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 4,420 m (14,500 ft)
- Range: 871 km (541 miles)
- Take-off run to 15 m (50 ft): 70 m (230 ft)
- Take-off run at max take-off weight: 130 m (427 ft)
- Wing loading: 49.2 kg/m²
- Structural limits: +6 / -3G
- Empty weight: 340 kg (750 lb)
- Useful load: 260 kg (573 lb)
- Loaded weight: 600 kg (1,323 lb)
- Max baggage capacity: 100 kg (220 lb)
History:
The Hornet Cub was a development of the AAK Hornet and Hornet STOL. It was similar in appearance but was smaller, lighter, and cheaper to produce. The aircraft was designed to meet Australian Regulation 95-10, being a two-seater in tandem with an open cockpit or enclosed cockpit, as the customer wished, but with the same responsive controls and handling of the larger aircraft. The cargo area could be used for a jump seat.
The aircraft had a sliding door to the cargo area and this could be fitted on either side of the aircraft. It had large wheels for rough field operations and it had a trailing-link suspension. It could be fitted with optional larger wheels and, when used for cattle mustering, could be fitted with wailers and sirens.
The Hornet Cub was designed and marketed for the budget conscious flying enthusiast and was an all-metal, three-axis aircraft which could be quickly disassembled for carriage by trailer or for storage. It wass said to be suited to the beginner and intermediate pilot. It could be flown as an open cockpit or fully enclosed aircraft. Examples have been built for stock and mustering work on outback stations.