Photograph:
Capella Javelin in the United States (Lightsportsaircraftpilot)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single or two-seat ultralight aircraft
Power Plant:
One 21 kw (28 hp) at 6,100 rpm Rotax 277 single-cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled engine with a displacement of 2687 cc, weighing 29 kg (65 lb)
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.53 m (28 ft)
- Length: 5.49 m (18 ft)
- Height: 1.83 m (6 ft)
- Wing area: 10.04 m² (112 sq ft)
- Max speed: 101 km/h (63 mph)
- Cruising speed: 97 km/h (60 mph)
- Stalling speed: 42 km/h (26 mph)
- Service ceiling: 3,810 m (12,500 ft)
- Rate of climb: 122 m/min (400 ft/min)
- Fuel capacity: 19 litres (4.17 Imp gals)
- Range: 193 km (120 miles)
- Take-off run: 23 m (75 ft)
- Landing run: 30 m (100 ft)
- Empty weight: 109 kg (240 lb)
- Useful load: 138 kg (305 lb)
- Loaded weight: 261 kg (575 lb)
History:
The Javelin was introduced to the ultralight market in 1999 and was intended to appeal to pilots interested in having an open cockpit. The design had an open frame fuselage of 4130 welded steel tube, the pilot’s and passenger’s seats bolted to the airframe. The horizontal tail-fin and stabiliser were also of welded steel tube, the wing being built from riveted aluminium tubing, with all flying surfaces covered in fabric. Full-span ailerons were fitted, and it had a conventional sprung-steel main undercarriage and a steerable tailwheel. Standard engine was the Rotax 277 but this was considered by some to be underpowered and larger engines have been installed.
The Javelin was an open-cockpit, high-wing aircraft that was produced in kit form for some years by Capella Aircraft of Austin, Texas for amateur construction. It was designed to comply with American FAR 103 ultralight regulations. First in the series was a single-seat model which became known as the Javelin I when the Javelin II two-seater appeared, a further model becoming the T-Raptor which was aimed at the ultralight training market. Capella also produces a number of other designs, including the Capella SS, Capella XLS and the Capella XS.
The Javelin II had the 37 kw (50 hp) Rotax 503 engine, and the T-Raptor had a range of engines available: the 37 kw (50 hp) Rotax 503, the 48 kw (64 hp) Rotax 582 or the 45 kw (60 hp) HKS 700E unit.
At least one has been built in Australia and registered under RAA Regulations, becoming 19-4309 (c/n JV2105), registered on 31 March 2005.