Photograph:
Team Airbike NX61453 at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA in July 2007 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single or two-seat light parasol wing sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 30 kw (40 hp) Rotax 447UL 2V two-cylinder, two-stroke, fan-cooled electronic ignition engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 7.93 m (26 ft)
- Length: 4.88 m (16 ft)
- Height: 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 10.98 m² (118 sq ft)
- Max speed: 130 km/h (80 mph)
- Cruising speed: 102 km/h (63 mph)
- Stalling speed: 49 km/h (30 mph)
- Rate of climb: 305 m/min (1000 ft/min)
- Range: 279 km (173 miles)
- Empty weight: 116 kg (257 lb)
- Loaded weight: 254 kg (560 lb)
History:
The Team Airbike, also known as the Ison Airbike, was designed to meet US FAR 103 regulations and has been produced in single and two-seat variants, the latter being licensed as an ultralight trainer or as an amateur-built aircraft. The single-seater could use a light-weight engine, meeting the 114 kg (251 lb) empty weight category, and thus could operate with a 21 kw (28 hp) Rotax 277 or 16 kw (22 hp) Zenoah G-25 engine. It is said it became known as the Airbike because of the narrow fuselage and the pilot’s feet resting on external rudder pedals, similar to a motor cycle.
The Tandem Airbike was of similar appearance to the single-seater but the fuselage was stretched to allow for the carriage of a passenger. The parasol wing was constructed from wood covered with fabric, having full-span ailerons, the two-seater being able to be fitted with electrically actuated flaperons. All controls were cable operated. The fuselage was of 4130 steel tube and a tailwheel was standard.
The Airbike was available as a partly factory assembled kit which included a pre-welded fuselage and tail, pre-built main wing spars and ribs, all brackets and fittings, undercarriage, propeller, instruments and fuel tank. By December 1998 127 examples had been completed. At least one has been registered in Australia as 10-3002 (c/n AB3131), registered in March 1988 and fitted with a Rotax 447 engine, it being described as an Airbike RX-40 Enduro.