Photograph:
Rainbow Aircraft Cheetah XLS 24-7072 (c/n CH-100) at Serpentine, WA in 2012 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
South Africa
Description:
Two-seat light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 75 kw (100 hp) Rotax 912S four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-and-liquid-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.9 m (32 ft 5 in)
- Length: 5.67 m (18 ft 6 in)
- Height: 1.9 m (6 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 13.25 m² (142.62 sq ft)
- Max speed: 177 km/h (110 mph)
- Cruising speed at 65% power: 161 km/h (100 mph)
- Stalling speed no flaps: 64 km/h (40 mph)
- Stalling speed with flaps: 56 km/h (35 mph)
- Rate of climb: 274 m/min (900 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 4,267 m (14,000 ft)
- Endurance: 7 hours
- Range with reserve: 1,126 km (700 miles)
- Take-off run: 80 m (262 ft)
- Landing run: 100 m (328 ft)
- Empty weight: 274 kg (604 lb)
- Useful load: 286 kg (630 lb)
- Loaded weight: 560 kg (1.235 lb)
History:
The Cheetah, produced in South Africa by Rainbow Aircraft at Springs Airfield, Springs, is a two-seat light sporting monoplane of robust construction. It has STOL performance and is available with a range of engines and accessories. In February 2006 the model XLS appeared, and in July 2007 it was approved by the South African CAA for full PPL training and hour-building towards a CPL. By May 2004 one ZU-CUH (c/n CH-009) had reached 530 flying hours.
The type became available in kit form in March 2004 and the first Cheetah with a 60 kw (80 hp) Jabiru 2200 engine was completed soon thereafter. Other engines available include the Rotax models 582, 912 and 912S. It is of tubular construction with a Trylam fabric covering envelope which is pre-sewn, pulled over the airframe components, and laced-up for tightness.
At least one example, an XLS, has been completed in Australia and registered under RAA regulations as 24-7073. Another has been registered in New Zealand, becoming ZK-KDM ( c/n 129) but in February 2012 it became ZK-FRC to its owner K D Mattson of Ngaruawahia.