Photograph:
Prototype Francis RJF-2 VH-RJF² (c/n RJF2-01) shortly after completion (Robert Francis)
Country of origin:
Australia
Description:
Two-seat light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 75 kw (100 hp) Subaru EA-81 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed liquid-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 12 m (39 ft 4 in)
- Length: 5.75 m (18 ft 10 in)
- Cruising speed: 185 km/h (115 mph)
- Stalling speed with flaps: 93 km/h (58 mph)
- Fuel capacity: 100 litres (22 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 600 kg (1,323 lb)
- Loaded weight: 850 kg (1,874 lb.
History:
The Francis RJF-2 was a light high-wing sport monoplane with a pusher engine designed and built by Mr Robert Francis. It seated two in tandem, had a tricycle undercarriage and a semi T-tail. The wing and tailplane were located on the engine thrust line, the nosewheel being able to caster, and ground steering was by differential braking. Power plant was a Subaru EA-81 with twin-carburettors and an Amax Re-drive. It was fitted with a two-blade Bolly propeller. There was a 40 litres (8.8 Imp gals) fuel tank in each wing, and a 20 litres (4.4 Imp gals) reserve tank in the fuselage.
The wing was of foam/fibreglass construction with plywood ribs, strut braced, and was removable for road transport. The wing had an NACA 63-415 profile with split flaps on 35 per cent of the wing span. The fuselage was a steel tube rigid frame supporting the engine and wings with a non-structural foam fibreglass body. Design stress limits were +6G and -4G.
The prototype was completed late in 2007, becoming VH-FRP² (c/n RJF2-01) on 5 September 2007. However, the aircraft crashed near Gloucester, NSW on 12 September 2012.