Photograph:
Quad City Challenger 28-1506 (c/n CH2-0796-CW150) at Avalon, VIC in February 2001 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 39 kw (52 hp) Rotax 503 two-cylinder two-stroke fan-cooled electronic dual-ignition engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.6 m (31 ft 5 in)
- Length: 6.096 m (20 ft)
- Wing area: 16.07 m² (173 sq ft)
- Max speed: 145 km/h (90 mph)
- Max cruising speed: 121 km/h (75 mph)
- Stalling speed: 35 km/h (22 mph)
- Rate of climb: 366 m/min (1,200 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 4,267 m (14,000 ft)
- Range: 241 km (150 miles)
- Empty weight: 145 kg (320 lb)
- Loaded weight: 372 kg (830 lb)v
History:
With more than 500 examples built, and over 750 kits sold around the world, the Quad City Challenger series has been very popular on the ultralight / microlight market, being available in a variety of models. The Challenger is an ultralight with a 21 kw (28 hp) Rotax 277 engine; the Challenger Special is a single seat with a shorter wingspan, having a 31 kw (42 hp) Rotax 447 engine; and the two-seat Challenger II has the 39 kw (52 hp) Rotax 503. The Challenger Ultralight is a single-seat variant.
Produced in kit form by the manufacturers, Quad City Ultra Light Aircraft of Moine, Illinois, the type is usually fitted with a tricycle undercarriage but may be fitted with floats. Fuel capacity is 19 litres (4.16 Imp gals) but a 38 litres (8.3 Imp gal) tank is optional. A number have been completed in Australia and New Zealand, nearly all those completed in Australia being registered under AUF/RAA Regulations. First to be completed was 28-0473 (c/n W220), followed by a number of others, including 19-8390 (c/n 2889).
Aircraft registered in New Zealand include ZK-SAI (c/n CH2-1099-B-1917), ZK-RMI (c/n 0291 Y 0030 MAANZ/461) and ZK-TPL (c/n CH2-1099-B-1916). At least 18 are known to have been completed.