Photograph:
Aeroplanes Dar Solo G-CIUT during testing in Bulgaria (Aeroplanes Dar)
Country of origin:
Bulgaria
Description:
Single-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 27 kw (36.5 hp) Pollini Thor 250 DS single-cylinder, twin-ignition, liquid-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.45 m (31 ft)
- Length: 4.76 m (15 ft 7 in)
- Height: 2.47 m (8 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 9.765 m² (105.10 sq ft)
- Max diving speed: 164 km/h (102 mph)
- Never exceed speed: 150 km/h (93 mph)
- Max level speed: 121 km/h (75 mph)
- Max manoeuvring speed: 109 km/h (68 mph)
- Stalling speed: 51 km/h (32 mph)
- Best climbing speed: 60 km/h (37 mph)
- Fuel capacity: 15 litres (3.3 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 136 kg (300 lb)
- Loaded weight: 252 kg (556 lb)
- Max take-off weight with rescue system installed: 260 kg (573 lb)
History:
The Solo wass one of a series of aircraft developed in Bulgaria by Aeroplanes Dar, the Company having been established in 1917 by the King of Bulgaria, King Ferdinand, as a workshop for what was to become the country’s National Air Force. The Company went on to become an independent manufacturer and has produced a number of aircraft designs over the years.
The initial manager of the Company was a German aeronautical engineer, Herman Winter, who was in later years involved in the design and development of the Fieseler Storch. In 1995 the Company decided to produce a number of designs, including single-seat, two-seat and four-seat models, and LSA aircraft using metal construction.
First aircraft from the Company’s designs to be imported to Australia was the Solo, a single-seat aircraft of composite construction using carbon, aramid and fibreglass in moulds under vacuum. The undercarriage was constructed of fibreglass in a new two-stage vacuum process. Two variants of the design have been produced, one being the Solo UL ultralight with a max take-off weight of 260 kg (573 lb) fitted with a Pollini Thor 250 DS engine driving a two-blade wooden propeller. This aircraft could be fitted with a GRS 260 rescue system.
The other variant was the Solo 120 designed to meet German regulations with a max take-off weight of 120 kg (265 lb), this aircraft meeting ultralight regulations in Russia, Korea, Brazil and other countries. It has been fitted with a GRS 240 rescue system. This aircraft, designed by Tony Ilieff, was first flown in August 2008. It has been distributed in Australia by Sports Aircraft Australia, the first example having been based in Queensland.