Photograph:
III Sky Arrow 650TCN VH-IOI (c/n 003) at Griffith, NSW in 2011 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Italy
Description:
Two-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
(Model 1450A)
One 75 kw (100 hp) Rotax 914 turbocharged four-cylinder horizontally-opposed liquid-and-air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.6 m (31 ft 5 in)
- Length: 7.59 m (24 ft 9 in)
- Height: 2.92 m (9 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 13.44 m² (144.7 sq ft)
- Max speed: 219 km/h (136 mph)
- Cruising speed: 169 km/h (105 mph)
- Stalling speed: 69 km/h (43 mph)
- Rate of climb: 244 m/min (800 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 7,620 m (25,000 ft)
- Range: 580 km (360 miles)
- Empty weight: 408 kg (900 lb)
- Loaded weight: 658 kg (1,450 lb)
History:
The Sky Arrow has been produced in a number of models by Iniziative Industriali Italiane SpA in Italy as a light two-seat in-tandem sport and training aircraft, the first flight of the prototype being made in March 1993. Variations in the design related basically to the engine installed and the maximum take-off weight, the Model 450 being for markets where the take-off weight was 450 kg (992 lb); the 480 where the permissible take-off weight was 480 kg (1,058 lb); the 500 for 500 kg (1,102 lb) in France; the 650TC being the JAR-VLA certified model with a maximum take-off weight of 650 kg (1,433 lb); and the 1450 being the Model 650T for the United States market.
Power plant usually fitted was the 60 kw (80 hp) Rotax 912UL four-cylinder, four-stroke, unit but the Rotax 914 turbocharged unit of 75 kw (100 hp) was optional on the heavier models. The 650A Exocet was amphibious with composite floats. The type had carbon-sandwich construction airframe, wings, tail unit and undercarriage with Kevlar reinforcement.
The type has been quite successful with examples being completed around the world, being available in kit form. One of the first of the type in this region was a Model 480T ZK-EBR (c/n 135) which, between 23 July and 8 August 1997, flew both ways across the Tasman in a time of 15 hours for each crossing, stopping at Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island, turning around at Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales central coast.
First of the type in Australia was VH-IOI (c/n 003), registered in 1999 to Sky Arrow Australia of Carlton, VIC, shown at the Australian International Air Show at Avalon, VIC in February that year. A small number have been registered in Australia.