Photograph:
Aeroprakt A-32 Vixen 23-8770 (c/n 017) on display at Ausfly at Narromine, NSW in September 2015 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
The Ukraine
Description:
Two-seat light sport and training monoplane
Power Plant:
One 75 kw (100 hp) Rotax 912S four-cylinder horizontally-opposed liquid-and-air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.45 m (31 ft)
- Length: 6.27 m (20 ft 6 in)
- Height: 2.48 m (8 ft 2 in)
- Never exceed speed: 232 km/h (144 mph)
- Max cruising speed: 213 km/h (132 mph)
- Stalling speed: 50 km/h (31 mph)
- Take-off roll: 100 m (328 ft)
- Take-off to 15 m (50 ft): 230 m (755 ft)
- Landing roll: 100 m (328 ft)
- Landing from 15 m (50 ft): 245 m (804 ft)
- Endurance: 4 hrs plus reserve
- Fuel capacity: 90 litres (19.8 Imp gals)
- G limits: +4 / -2G
- Empty weight: 315 kg (1,033 lb)
- Loaded weight: 600 kg (1,323 lb)
History:
The Aeroprakt series of light sport aircraft has been produced in the Ukraine and has been very popular in this part of the world, with more than 140 examples in operation throughout Australia and New Zealand, most aircraft being registered in Australia under sport aircraft rules with the RAA.
The A-32 Vixen, introduced to the market in 2015, was the subject of a development program over three years, the main part of this involving the installation of ‘state-of-the art’ aerodynamics. A development of the Foxbat, it has had changes to the faired undercarriage legs and wheels, and the fairings at the top and bottom of the wing lift struts. Aerodynamic fairings have been fitted to the wing roots and the leading-edges and trailing-edges. Significant changes were made to the areas of drag around the engine bay, the changes permitting the aircraft to fly faster, glide better, stall at a lower speed and use less fuel.
Changes were made to the windscreen curving into the wing, and the doors incorporated composite frames with convex polycarbonate transparencies which sealed the airframe to reduce noise and aerodynamic drag. The aircraft also introduced an all-flying tailplane, the first on an Aeroprakt aircraft, reducing trim drag and control forces. The aircraft had two-stage flaperons, hydraulic brakes, a steerable nose wheel and a luggage holder which could take 20 kg (44 lb). Options included a ballistic rescue system, digital instrument package, and an autopilot. The airframe was all-metal and twin control yokes were standard.
The aircraft has been available complete and could be registered with RA-Aus or CASA. The first aircraft imported arrived in June 2015 and was registered as VH-VBQ, being used initially as a demonstrator. Further examples registered in Australia have included VH-ACY5 (c/n 020) on 10 November 2016 and VH-DIU5 (c/n 021) registered on 9 November 2016.
First example of the type registered in New Zealand became ZK-WCB (c/n 110) registered to Foxbat Enterprises Ltd of Pukekoho on 2 May 2016.