Photograph:
Ultralight Aviation Skydart 19-4133 at The Oaks, NSW in September 2000 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Australia
Description:
Two-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 48 kw (65 hp) Rotax 582UL-2V two-cylinder, two-stroke, liquid-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.2 m (31 ft)
- Length: 6 m (19 ft 8 in)
- Height: 1.85 m (6 ft)
- Wing area: 12 m² (121 sq ft)
- Wing loading: 45 kg/m² (9.9 lb/sq ft)
- Cruising speed: 148 km/h (92 mph)
- Stalling speed without flaps: 72 km/h (45 mph)
- Stalling speed with flaps: 67 km/h (41 mph)
- Take-off roll: 250 m (820 ft)
- Landing roll: 150 m (492 ft)
- Fuel capacity: 60 litres (13 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 290 kg (640 lb)
- Baggage capacity: 20 kg (44 lb)
- Loaded weight: 544 kg (1,200)
History:
The first of the Skydart series of light sporting aircraft was flown in 1984 and since then it has been developed by Ultralight Aviation of Grays Point, NSW, later of Rosemeadow, NSW, its designer being Steven Cohen. Over the years it has been available as a kit aircraft and some numbers have been built in Australia and overseas. Built as a two-seater, it was of welded steel tube construction frame, to which a fuselage was attached built of composite materials. The main structure was pre-welded 4130 chrome-moly steel, the wings utilising a 127 mm (5 inch) aluminium tube for the main spar with aluminium channel for the rear spar, and fibreglass ribs.
The flight control surfaces used aluminium tubes and ribs, the tail also having similar construction. The tailboom was of advanced composite construction. A number of engines have been installed, including the Rotax geared Model 277, but most used the Rotax 582. The Rotax 912 has also been fitted, this providing a cruising speed of 194 km/h (121 mph). Fuel capacity was 60 litres (13 Imp gals.)
In later years Skydart kits were supplied by Ultralight Aviation of Rosemeadow, NSW and at least 15 examples have been registered with Recreation Aviation Australia (RAA), being of a range of models, including the Skydart I, Skydart II, Skydart III and the Intruder. One described as an Aero Composite Skydart IIS was registered 19-4363 on 10 June 2005 and was withdrawn from use on 10 June 2006.