Photograph:
Urbanair UFM-10 Samba XL 19-7665 (c/n SAXL26) in South Australia in 2010 (Author’s collection)
Country of origin:
Czech Republic
Description:
Two-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 60 kw (80 hp) Jabiru 2200 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.92 m (32 ft 6 in)
- Length: 5.9 m (19 ft 4 in)
- Height: 2.0 m (6 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 8.9 m² (95.8 sq ft)
- Max speed: 180 km/h (112 mph)
- Max cruising speed: 169 km/h (105 mph)
- Economical cruising speed: 113 km/h (70 mph)
- Stalling speed clean: 80 km/h (49 mph)
- Stalling speed full flap: 70 km/h (44 mph)
- Rate of climb at sea level: 300 m/min (984 ft/min)
- Take-off run on grass: 150 m (492 ft)
- Landing run: 80 m (292 ft)
- Range [no reserve]: 878 km (546 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 50 litres (11 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 268 kg (591 lb)
- Payload with max fuel: 147 kg (324 lb)
- Loaded weight: 450 kg (992 lb)
History:
The Samba prototype was first flown in 1999 and was similar to the Urbanair Lambada but had a shortened wing and shortened fuselage. It had a low wing fitted with ailerons and double slotted Fowler flaps operated by pushrods, and a low-mounted tailplane. Both wings could be removed for transport or storage, as could the horizontal tailplane.
The Samba was designed for fast touring, sport flying and towing gliders of up to 380 kg (838 lb) in weight, being used in this role in South Africa. Both types have won awards at a number of Microlight Championships.
A new variant of the Samba was released in 2004, known as the Samba XXL. This model was more conventional in appearance than the earlier model but retained the same basic wing design and had an increased max take-off weight. It also could be fitted with 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) wing extensions to enhance gliding performance at a weight penalty of 2 kg (4.4 lb). The aircraft conformed to JAR/VLA (BCAR Section 5) Regulations. Engine was the Australian-built Jabiru 2200 fitted with a two-blade GT fixed-pitch propeller, but other engines have been installed.
First of the Samba series imported to this region was a Model XXL which became 19-7665 on the Recreatuon Aviation Australia (RAA) register on 26 October 2010.