Photograph:
HB-Flugtechnik HB-207 Alpha HB-YIQ (c/n 207-009) in Switzerland (CA Fauser)
Country of origin:
Austria
Description:
Two-seat light touring monoplane
Power Plant:
One 82 kw (110 hp) VW-Porsche 2.4 litre four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9 m (29 ft 6 in)
- Length: 5.95 m (19 ft 6 in)
- Height: 1.95 m (6 ft 3 in)
- Wing area: 9.5 m² (102.26 sq ft)
- Max cruising speed: 307 km/h (191 mph)
- Stalling speed clean: 93 km/h (58 mph)
- Stalling speed: with 30 degrees flap: 83 km/h (52 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 330 m/min (1,082 ft/min)
- Take-off distance: 190 m (623 ft)
- Take-off distance over 15 m (50 ft) obstacle: 300 m (984 ft)
- Fuel capacity: 100 litres (38.6 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 440 kg (970 lb)
- Loaded weight: 640 kg (1,411 lb)
History:
The Alpha was one of a series of light aircraft produced by HB-Flugtechnik in Austria, the other designs including the Amigo, the Cubby, the Dandy and a two-seat mid-wing high-performance aircraft known as the Tornado, which had a pusher engine driving a five-blade propeller and was fitted with a retractable undercarriage.
The Alpha was a two-seat light training and touring monoplane and plans were that the aircraft would be supplied as a kit with a range of engines able to be installed ranging from 75 kw (100 hp) to 112 kw (150 hp). Most aircraft built had the VW-Porsche unit. Delivery of kits commenced in 1997 and examples have been built in Austria, France, Germany, Switzerland and the United States.
Designed by Heino Brditschka in 1994, the Alpha was one of a series of light touring aircraft with a low-wing, which was said to have a very low noise footprint. It was supplied in kit form, which provided aluminium, wood and composite materials. The engine fitted to most aircraft was a variant of the VW-Porsche 2.4 litre four-cylinder unit produced by HB-Flugtechnik to run on mogas, driving a five-blade constant speed propeller. It was fitted with a retractable undercarriage. The Company had an arrangement with HB Aviation in The Netherlands, to market the type.
A number of models became available, these including: HB-207V with a fixed tricycle undercarriage; HB-207V RG, a designation applied to the HB-207V with a retractable undercarriage; HB-207R with a Rotax 912 engine, extended nose and a fixed tricycle undercarriage; and the HB-207R RG, which was the HB-207R with a retractable undercarriage.
First of the type seen in this region was VH-DRE4 (c/n 01/29) registered to its owner builder in Western Australia in July 2005. Work on this aircraft commenced in Germany in 2001. It was brought to Australia when the owner came for an extended holiday and remained based in Australia, being registered on 22 January 2005. This machine was initially fitted with a 90 kw (120 hp) modified Daihatsu motor car engine with electronic injection but records have indicated at some stage it was re-fitted with an 86 kw (115 hp) Rotax 914 engine.