Photograph:
Free Flight Hornet at Schofields, NSW in March 1981 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Australia
Description:
Single-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 22 kw (30 hp) Koenig three-cylinder engine driving a ducted fan
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 7.9 m (25 ft 10 in)
- Width [wings folded]: 2.29 m (7 ft 6 in)
- Length overall: 3.05 m (10 ft)
- Length: [wings folded]: 4.57 m (15 ft 6 in)
- Height: 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 10 m² (107.6 sq ft)
- Cruising speed: 157 km/h (98 mph)
- Economical cruising speed: 144 km/h (89 mph)
- Stalling speed: 56 km/h (35 mph)
- Max rate of climb: 152 m/min (500 ft/min)
- Take-off run: 61 m (200 ft)
- Landing run: 107 m (350 ft)
- G-limits: +6/-5 [ultimate]
- Empty weight: 114 kg (251 lb)
- Loaded weight: 295 kg (650 lb)
History:
The Free Flight Hornet S-10 was a tail-less flying-wing of composite construction designed and developed by Mr David Betteridge of Free Flight Gliders of Adelaide, SA, this Company planning to start production of the Hornet as the Model 130S, describing the aircraft as a flying-wing minimum aircraft. It was designed to conform to FAR 23 (United States Airworthiness Code) and Australian ANO 95-10. It initially had an open cockpit and flights were made by the prototype at Aldinga airfield south of Adelaide.
Power initally was a modified 250 cc Yamaha outboard engine driving a ducted fan pusher propeller. It was announced production aircraft would be of fibreglass and metal construction, the prototype having been of plywood construction, making its first flight in March 1979 at Noarlunga Airfield on 8 March piloted by Colin Scott. The radical design was further developed, and it was displayed at Schofields, NSW at an aviation event at one stage, but no major production ensued at that time.
The production aircraft was described as being an all-wing aircraft, rudders being mounted winglet-style at the tip of each wing, and control in the pitching and rolling axes was through elevons. Anticipated max speed initially was 185 km/h (115 mph) with a cruising speed of 120 km/h (75 mph).
An agreement was signed at one stage with French company, Ameca, to develop a two-seat derivative in 1984. Engines proposed to be available ranged from 18.5 kw to 26 kw (25 hp to 35 hp) and included the 27 kw (36 hp) Lock Laird O-500-2 two-cylinder, four-stroke, unit.
Later it was announced the type was to be put into production and marketed by Air-Am Aviation Industries of Fyshwick, ACT. This model was to have an enclosed cockpit and be powered by a Koenig engine driving a ducted fan mounted behind the enclosed cockpit, the aircraft sitting on a reverse tricycle undercarriage to enhance its rough strip capabilities. The large wings folded back either side of the fuselage to facilitate storage and trailering.
The company prepared plans for much larger flying-wings for future development and, as noted, a two-seat version was under development in the mid 1980s. The prototype has survived, having made its last flight at Aldinga on 22 March 1981, this being on display at the South Australian Aviation Museum at Port Adelaide.