Photograph:
The prototype Explorer 19-4280 (c/n Ce-0001) after completion (Tomair)
Country of origin:
Australia
Description:
Two-seat high-wing sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 82 kw (110 hp) Subaru EA-81 four cylinder horizontally-opposed dual electronic ignition liquid-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.53 m (28 ft)
- Length: 5.79 m (19 ft)
- Height: 1.82 m (6 ft)
- Cruising speed: 222 km/h (138 mph)
- Stalling speed: 70 km/h (44 mph)
- Take-off run: 122 m (400 ft)
- Landing run: 122 m (400 ft)
- Fuel burn at cruise: 16 litres/hr (3.5 Imp gals/hr)
- Range: 1,448 km (900 miles)
- Empty weight: 280 kg (617 lb)
- Loaded weight [RAA]: 544 kg (1,199 lb)
- Loaded weight [General Aviation]: 700 kg (1,543 lb)
History:
The Explorer was produced by Tomair, which later changed its name to Cobra Aviation, for the Australasian market and the aircraft was basically a high-wing variant of the Cobra Arrow. It was of composite construction and was made available in kit form. The prototype was nearing completion in early 2008 and was shipped to Queensland for finishing. This model could be fitted with a range of engines, including the Subaru EA-81, Rotax 912, Rotax 914, Rotax 582, Jabiru 2200 and 3300, Lycoming IO-200, Lycoming O-360, and Mazda rotary.
The Company was involved in developing a variant of the Mazda RX-8 rotary engine for aviation use, known as the Cobra Viper, this engine providing 119 kw (160 hp) and examples of this engine being provided with kits in 2007. The Explorer was a three-seat aircraft with a tricycle undercarriage and had a capacity of 85 kg (197 lb) in the third seat.
First example registered on 25 February 2005 became 19-4280 (c/n Ce-0001) fitted with a Mazda Rotary 165 engine but was withdrawn from service 12 months later on 25 February 2006.