Photograph:
First Australian Aquila A-210 VH-BNE (c/n AT201-211) at Avalon, VIC in March 2011 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Germany
Description:
Two-seat light touring and training aircraft
Power Plant:
One 75 kw (100 hp) Rotax 912S3 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-and-liquid-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.3 m (33 ft 8 in)
- Length: 7.3 m (24 ft)
- Height: 2.3 m (7 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 10.5 m² (113 sq ft)
- Max permissible speed: 305 km/h (190 mph)
- Max speed at sea level: 241 km/h (150 mph)
- Minimum speed: 80 km/h (50 mph)
- Stalling speed [clean]: 93 km/h (58 mph)
- Stalling speed [with flaps]: 80 km/h (50 mph)
- Max rate of climb at sea level: 229 m/min (750 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 4,450 m (14,500 ft)
- Range at 55% power at 1,524 m (5,000 ft): 1,150 km (715 miles)
- Endurance: 6.05 hours
- Fuel capacity: 120 litres (26 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 500 kg (1,103 lb)
- Useful load: 250 kg (551 lb)
- Max baggage weight: 40 kg (88 lb)
- Loaded weight: 750 kg (1,653 lb)
History:
The Aquila A-210 was a two-seat light sport and training aircraft produced by Excellence AG at Schonhagen in Germany. It was fitted with a 75 kw (100 hp) Rotax 912S3 engine driving an MT two-blade hydraulic constant-speed propeller. It has been described as a roomy and comfortable aircraft with good ergonomics. It had continuously adjustable seats and a steerable nosewheel. It has been described as having excellent flight characteristics and easy handling. It is of all-composite design, has a one-piece canopy, and seated two side-by-side.
A variant produced was the Aquila A-210 ASP, an airborne sensing platform, which was equipped with a modified luggage compartment which included two hatches in the bottom, a reinforced alternator to allow for increased power consumption, this being fitted to ensure the electricity supply to the sensitive sensor technology, the on-board computer, and the two flight-guidance monitors.
The A-210 could be fitted with a Garmin G-500 glass cockpit or a Revolution Aspen PFD.MFD.
First of the type in this region was imported by the Australian agent, Maltair Pty Ltd of Archerfield, QLD this aircraft VH-BNE (c/n AT201-211) being registered on 24 February 2011 and being placed on display at the Australian International Air Show at Avalon in March 2011, later entering service based at Archerfield.
A further example became VH-OIS (c/n AT01-250) in late 2012 to Aviation Concepts & Training Services of Perth, WA being followed by VH-OIT (c/n AT01-252) and VH-OIU (c/n AT01-254), both for training duties with the same operator.