Photograph:
Spectrum Beaver RX550 amphibian at Tumut, NSW in April 2013 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Canada
Description:
Two-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
(RX-550)
One 48 kw (65 hp) Rotax 277 single-cylinder, air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.66 m (35 ft)
- Length: 6.4 m (21 ft)
- Height: 2.13 m (7 ft)
- Wing area: 15.23 m ² (164 sq ft)
- Max speed: 129 km/h (80 mph)
- Economical cruising speed: 105 km/h (65 mph)
- Stalling speed: 43 km/h (24 mph)
- Rate of climb: 244 m/min (800 ft/min)
- Take-off run: 122 m (400 ft)
- Landing run: 137 m (450 ft)
- Service ceiling: 3,962 m (13,000 ft)
- Fuel capacity: 26.5 litres (5.8 Imp gals)
- Range: 193 km (120 miles)
- Empty weight: 204 kg (450 lb)
- Loaded weight: 503 kg (1,110 lb)
History:
Designed and developed in Canada by Spectrum Aircraft, the Beaver was a strut-braced high-wing monoplane of aluminium tube construction with double surface Dacron covering, with a Mylar reinforced leading-edge. Early production models were fitted with a tricycle undercarriage and a geared Rotax 277 engine, but in more recent times higher powered Rotax engines have been installed in order to increase performance. The undercarriage had independent shock absorbers for operations from unprepared airstrips.
A number have been built and registered in this region, some nine RX-28 Beavers and one RX-550 Beaver being registered under RAA regulations in 2006, the type being marketed by Freedom Aerolites of Alexandra, VIC. The latter, the RX-550, and the RX-550 Plus, were up-dated variants with a new wing which utilised a ladder-style framework with Ceconite covering, and featured full-span ailerons. Kits were made available by the manufacturer to up-date older production RX-550s. This model was available with either the Rotax 503 or 582 engine. In recent years kits have been marketed by Aircraft Sales and Parts of Vernon, Canada and more than 2,000 examples have been sold. The Beaver Plus is an up-graded variant of the Beaver RX-550. At least one example has been fitted with amphibious floats.