Photograph:
Vol Meditterani VM-1 Esquale 19-4406 (c/n E1800-57) at Watts Bridge, QLD in August 2008 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Spain
Description:
Two-seat light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 75 kw (100 hp) Rotax 912 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-and-liquid-cooled engine.
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.25 m (30 ft 4 in)
- Length: 5.86 m (19 ft 2 in)
- Height: 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
- Wing area: 9 m² (96.87 sq ft)
- Max speed: 260 km/h (162 mph)
- Cruising speed: 230 km/h (143 mph)
- Never exceed speed: 280 km/h (174 mph)
- Max manoeuvring speed: 160 km/h (99 mph)
- Stalling speed with flaps: 60 km/h (37 mph)
- Take-off run: 80 meters (262 ft)
- Landing run: 80 meters (262 ft)
- Empty weight: 230 kg (507 lb)
- Loaded weight: 450 kg (992 lb)
History:
The VM-1 Esqual was a two-seat monoplane with a fixed tricycle undercarriage. It was a high-performance light aircraft produced by Vol Mediterrani in a facility at Moia near Barcelona in Spain. The VM-1 was of monocoque fiberglass and sandwich vacuum laminated construction, the fuselage being cured in an oven. It was a cantilever low-wing aircraft with camber changing flaps downward for high lift, and upward for low drag and high-speed cruise. Wing structure was double spar in carbon/fiberglass with a secondary trailing edge spar, eg fibreglass sandwich skin. The aircraft had an electrically operated trim, changing the fixed tailplane incidence. Baggage capacity was 50 litres and fuel capacity was 70 litres (15.4 Imp gals). A ballistic parachute was optional.
A number of engines in the Rotax range could be installed, these being the 912, 912ULS, 582 and 618, and these could drive a variable pitch propeller. Seating was for two. Two examples arrived in Melbourne late in 2002, imported by Ultra Aviation of Lilydale, VIC, the first being registered under AUF / RAA Regulations as 19-3839 (c/n 001) registered on 9 December 2002, followed by 19-4177 (c/n E1800-53) registered on 24 August 2004; 19-4666 (c/n 58) with a Rotax 912 engine and registered on 7 April 2006; 19-4828 (c/n 67 – E180067) fitted a Jabiru 3300A engine and registered on 2 April 2007; 19-4406 (c/n 57) fitted with a Rotax 912ULS3 engine and registered on 8 August 2005; 19-4744 (c/n 65) fitted with a Rotax 912S engine and registered on 30 August 2006; and 19-3980 (c/n E1800-44) registered on 25 September 2003.