Photograph:
Aerosport Quail at the Pima Air Museum in Arizona in the United States (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-seat light sport high-wing monoplane
Power Plant:
One 34 kw (45 hp) [1600 cc] modified Volkswagen four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 7.32 m (24 ft)
- Length: 4.85 m (15 ft 11 in)
- Height: 1.69 m (5 ft 6 ½ in)
- Max speed at sea level: 209 km/h (130 mph)
- Max cruising speed: 185 km/h (115 mph)
- Rate of climb at sea level: 259 m/min (850 ft/min)
- Stalling speed: 77 km/h (48 mph)
- Service ceiling: 3,660 m (12,000 ft)
- Range with max fuel: 370 km (230 miles)
- Empty weight: 242 kg (534 lb)
- Loaded weight: 346 kg (762 lb)
History:
The Quail was designed by H L Woods of North Carolina, USA in 1970, construction of the prototype commencing in the following year. It first flew in December 1971. It had an all-moving tailplane, but later a fixed-incidence tailplane with elevator was evolved, and this was incorporated in the plans for the aircraft for amateur builders.
The aircraft was designed with ease of handling, low maintenance, and economy of operation in mind. It was of all-metal construction with a semi-monocoque type fuselage and a fixed tricycle undercarriage. At least 250 sets of plans were sold from the early 1970s, plans being provided by Aerosport of Holly Springs, North Carolina.
Registration VH-WBT was reserved for a kit imported to Australia by Mr W Taylor of Heathmont, VIC in the early 1980s. It was under construction for some time but the registration was not taken up. The aircraft is believed to have been completed under ultralight regulations. It is not known if any other kits were imported.