Photograph:
Artist’s impression of the SP-4000 (Australian Lightwing)
Country of origin:
Australia
Description:
Four-seat light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 134 kw (180 hp) Lycoming O-360 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8 m (26 ft 7 in)
- Length: 6.5 m (21 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 11.6 m² (124.86 sq ft)
- Cruising speed: 287 km/h (178 mph)
- Stalling speed: 102 km/h (63 mph)
- Rate of climb: 305 m/min (1,000 ft/min)
- Endurance: 6 hrs
- Range at 259 km/h (161 mph): 1,111 km (691 miles)
- Empty weight: 600 kg (1,322 lb)
- Useful load: 500 kg (1,102 lb)
- Usable fuel capacity: 178 litres (39 Imp gals)
- Fuel capacity: 180 litres (39.6 Imp gals) in wing tanks
- Loaded weight: 1,100 kg (2,425 lb)
History:
Australian Lightwing is based at Ballina, NSW and was set up to build ultralight and light sport aircraft for the Australian market. It was originally known as Hughes Aircraft, part of the Hughes Group, being operated by Howard and Nicholas Hughes. In the 21st century it has built aircraft with a combination of aluminium wings and a welded steel safety frame that enclosed the pilots in a protective cocoon.
A variety of models has been produced over the years but by 2014 main models were the SP-2000 and SP-4000, the former being a two-seater with a low wing which could be obtained in kit form or as a completed aircraft, featuring an enclosed cockpit, and available with a tailwheel or tricycle undercarriage. It was usually fitted with an engine from the Rotax range.
The SP-4000 was an enlarged variant of the SP-2000 seating four persons and fitted with a Lycoming engine. However, a variety of engines was to be available, including the Lycoming IO-320 and the Lycoming IO-360, as well as engines in the Continental range, and conversions of motor car engines, such as the Subaru fitted with a turbocharger. The SP-4000 could be fitted with a Bolly variable pitch propeller. The aircraft was aimed at the market to be used for instruction, the throttle and trim controls being common, but there being main controls, elevator and aileron sticks for both occupants.
The airframe was 6061T6 high tensile aluminium, the control surfaces being GRP laminated mass-balanced ailerons, elevators and rudder. The wing used an NACA23013 wing section. Two models were designed, the SP-4000 with a tricycle undercarriage, and the SP-4000TD fitted with a tailwheel undercarriage.
First example of the type completed in Australia was reported to be fitted with two Andrew Martin piston engines driving GT propellers, becoming VH-NCP (c/n 001) to its owner at Moonyoonooka, WA on 29 August 2014.