Photograph:
Rag Wing RW-2 Special ZK-MIK (c/n RWS070) (Evan Belworthy)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 80 kw (100 hp) Rotax 912 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed liquid-and-air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 5.48 m (18 ft)
- Length: 5.48 m (18 ft)
- Height: 1.67 m (5.6 in)
- Wing area: 11.14 m² (120 sq ft)
- Max speed – vne: 241 km/h (150 mph)
- Cruising speed: 177 km/h (110 mph)
- Stalling speed: 72 km/h (45 mph)
- Rate of climb: 305 m/min (1,000 ft/min)
- Take-off roll: 91 m (300 ft)
- Landing roll: 152 m (500 ft)
- Service ceiling: 3,200 m (10,500 ft)
- Fuel capacity: 53 litres (11.6 imp gals)
- Empty weight: 227 kg (500 lb)
- Loaded weight: 454 kg (1,000 lb)
History:
Rag Wing Aircraft provides plans for aircraft to be built by the amateur builder. The designs use simple construction techniques using locally available materials. The RW-2 Special is basically a scale replica of the Pitts S-2, is a two-seat biplane designed to be used for cross-country work and is of wooden construction with fabric covering. It can be constructed as a single-seater with a Rotax 503 engine, or as a two-seater with the more powerful Rotax 912 unit. Other engines which have been installed include the 26 kw (35 hp) Kawasaki 448, and the Hirth F.23 and F.30 units. It can be built to suit the category the builder requires. As an ultralight in the United States it has an empty weight of 113 kg (250 lb) and has a payload of 122 kg (270 lb).
The type has become popular around the world and at least two examples have been built in this region, one aircraft being built by the Belworthy family in New Zealand which became ZK-MIK; and 10-3977 (c/n 149) registered in Australia under RAA regulations on 18 September 2003 fitted with a Jabiru 1600 engine. Another example, known as a Special EXP, became ZK-POP (c/n RWS-086) in February 2005.