Photograph:
Piper Pipersport 24-7924 (c/n 09SC291) at Wedderburn, NSW in May 2012 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light sport and training aircraft
Power Plant:
One 75 kw (100 hp) Rotax 912 ULS four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.85 m (29 ft 1 in)
- Length: 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in)
- Height: 2.3 m (7 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 12.2 m² (131.32 sq ft)
- Cruising speed at 75% power: 203 km/h (127 mph)
- Stalling speed with flaps: 50 km/h (31 mph)
- Stalling speed clean: 59 km/h (37 mph)
- Rate of climb: 366 m/min (1,200 ft/min)
- Take-off run on grass: 130 m (426 ft)
- Landing run: 150 m (492 ft)
- Endurance [no reserve]: 6.7 hours
- Range: 1,278 km (794 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 120 litres (26.4 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 360 kg (794 lb)
- Loaded weight: 600 kg (1,323 lb)
History:
In 2009 Piper Aircraft was taken over by the Brunei Government and at this time the Company announced it would be producing a new training aircraft known as the Pipersport, this aircraft to be a derivative of the Czech Aircraft SportCruiser which was produced in the Czech Republic. Power was provided by a Rotax 912 ULS engine driving either a ground adjustable or constant speed propeller. It was developed to meet Piper and American requirements and these differences included improved handling.
With only minimal changes made to the design, the contract between CZAW and Piper was entered into in January 2010, the aircraft being manufactured in the Czech Republic and Piper distributing parts. Changes included a stronger nose undercarriage, a Ballistic Recovery System, leather seating, a sunshade in the cockpit and a different colour scheme. Piper only offered the aircraft as a complete unit and it was not available in kit form. Distribution was through the world-wide Piper network. The first delivery to the United States took place in April 2010.
Seating was provided for two side-by side. First examples arrived in Australia in 2010, the local distributor being Aerosport Aviation Ltd. However, after 12 months the production of the aircraft ceased due, it is said by Piper, to differences in business philosophies. The arrangement was dissolved. Production of the type as the Evektor Sportstar continued.
Only a small number of examples of the Pipersport were registered, including VH-UGP (c/n P1001102) on 3 May 2011 to Curtiss Aviation of Camden, and VH-EZT (c/n P1001085) on 29 May 2011 to the University Flying Club at Innaloo, WA. Others were registered with Recreation Aviation Australia including 24-8108 (c/n P100-1103) on 11 April 2012 and 24-8042 (c/n P110-2050) on 20 December 2011.