Photograph:
Elitar Sigma 4 ZK-JQF² (c/n 08) on display at Avalon, VIC in March 2007 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Russia
Description:
Two-seat light sport and training monoplane
Power Plant:
One 75 kw (100 hp) Rotax 912ULS four-cylinder horizontally-opposed liquid-and-air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.8 m (32 ft 1¾ in)
- Length: 6.2 m (20 ft 3 in)
- Height: 2.9 m (8 ft 5½ in)
- Wing area: 10.89 m² (117.3 sq ft)
- Max speed: 205 km/h (124 mph)
- Cruising speed: 170 km/h (106 mph)
- Stalling speed in landing configuration: 65 km/h (39 mph)
- Take-off speed: 80 km/h (50 mph)
- Minimum speed: 65 km/h (40 mph)
- Max rate of climb: 366 m/min (1,200 ft/min)
- Range at 130 km/h (81 mph): 700 km (435 miles)
- Endurance: 5.5 hours
- Take-off run: 90 m (295 ft)
- Landing run: 100 m (328 ft)
- Empty weight: 320 kg (705 lb)
- Loaded weight: 540 kg (1,190 lb)
History:
Elitar was formed in 1997 and commenced marketing a number of designs, including the IE-101, the IE- 201 Senator, the IE -202 and the Sigma 4. The latter was designed in Russia by the Albatross Design Bureau as one of a series of ultralight sport aircraft of composite construction, seating two, certified to JAR/VLA requirements.
The aircraft was of wing and boom configuration, with an underslung crew pod braced to the wings by single streamline struts on each side with a small fin under the tail. It had electrically-operated flaps and was fitted with a ballistic parachute. The wings were removable and the aircraft could be towed by a motor vehicle. The engine was the Rotax 912ULS mounted above and ahead of the cockpit pod driving a three-blade propeller. Fuel capacity was 65 litres (14.3 Imp gals). It could be used for training, tourism, and sport flying.It could be fitted with a tricycle fixed undercarriage, snow skis, or floats.
A prototype was tested at the Experimental Department at Zhukovsky near Moscow, and another was placed with the Sebastopol Aero Club in the Ukraine for trials. Production commenced in 2003. In 2005 East Sea Company Ltd, a New Zealand company, announced it proposed to commence licence production of the type, the first aircraft to be completed in June 2005.
First of the series registered was a demonstrator, becoming ZK-JQF² (c/n 08) on 26 January 2006, being registered (as were the other Sigmas imported) by Maxim Vassiliev of Auckland but were in fact imported by his company, East Sea Company Ltd, which was registered in Christchurch. All examples were assembled in Rangiora.
In early 2007 ZK-JQF² was shipped to Australia and placed on display at the Australian International Air Show at Avalon, VIC. This aircraft was removed from the New Zealand register on 21 June 2007 and became 24-5095 under REcreational Aviation Australia (RAA) Regulations. It was fitted with a Rotax 912ULS engine.
In May 2007 two more Sigma 4s were registered, the first becoming ZK-JRC² (c/n 09) on 24 May and being sold to Mr Harry Devonish of Christchurch. The second became ZK-JRN (c/n 10) to the importer Mr M Vassiliev of Christchurch. It was registered on 24 May also but was not assembled until late 2008, being finished in January 2009. In February that year it was noted at Ashburton at the Sport Aircraft Association meeting with a pair of non-amphibious floats placed beside it but it is not known to have been flown with such. It was in March 2009 registered to Michael Gray and Philip Walsh of Blenheim.
A fourth aircraft was imported and became ZK-SRN (c/n 11) on 10 December 2009. It was sold to Mr K J Gaiteley of Auckland, ownership, changing to Ian Close of Christchurch in December 2016.
The manufacturers also produced an aircraft known as the Elitar IE-202, a two-seat low-wing monoplane of composite construction with dual controls, aimed at the pilot training, patrolling and monitoring, recreation and tourism markets. It was powered by a Rotax 912ULS engine and was designed to European standards JAR and VLA.