Photograph:
SG Aviation Storm 400RG 19-4610 (c/n S8-00S-0019) at Temora, NSW in March 2013 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Italy
Description:
Light sporting and touring monoplane
Power Plant:
(Storm 400)
One 119 kw (160 hp) Textron Lycoming O-320 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 7.98 m (22 ft 2 in)
- Length: 6.82 m (22 ft 4 in)
- Height: 2.15 m (7 ft 0¾ in)
- Wing area: 10.45 m² (112.5 sq ft)
- Max speed: 290 km/h (180 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power: 274 km/h (170 mph)
- Stalling speed power off flaps down: 70 km/h (44 mph)
- Max rate of climb at sea level: 457 m/min (1,500 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 3,960 m (13,000 ft)
- Range with max fuel: 1,100 km (680 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 140 litres (30.8 Imp gals)
- Take-off run: 220 m (720 ft)
- Landing run: 200 m (655 ft)
- Empty weight: 480 kg (1,055 lb)
- Loaded weight: 850 kg (1,870 lb)
History:
The Storm 400 and 500 were part of a range of aircraft produced by SG Aviation in Italy. These models differed from previous models in using Lycoming engines rather than the Rotax series. Of all metal construction, the 400 and 500 differed mainly in that the 400 had the 119 kw (160 hp) O-320 engine and seated two adults and two children, whereas the 500 had a 134 kw (180 hp) Lycoming O-360 engine and seated four, being slightly larger overall and having a gross weight of 973 kg (2,145 lb), the wingspan being 8.6 m (28 ft 2 in) and fuel capacity being 180 litres (40 Imp gals), being fitted with a fixed tricycle undercarriage.
Construction was basically all-metal and both models were available in kit form and could be fitted with a tricycle undercarriage or tailwheel. The Storm 400 TI could accommodate a third passenger. Fuel capacity of the 400 was 136 litres (30 Imp gals) and the 500 had a fuel capacity of 180 litres (39.6 Imp gals), the 400 having a range of 1,260 km (783 miles) and the 500 having a range of 1,324 km (823 miles).
The series became very popular in the United States. A number have been imported and built in Australasia, most being registered under RAA regulations. One Storm 500 became VH-AYQ (c/n 151) in May 2003 at Temora, NSW. Local distributor for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands was Adroit Technology Pty Ltd with a facility at Temora.