Photograph:
Whisper Aircraft Whisper VH-ZIP (c/n WA07047) at Camden, NSW on 22 March 2010 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
South Africa
Description:
Self-launched glider
Power Plant:
One 54 kw (72 hp) Limbach L2000 four-cylinder four-stroke horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 16 m (52 ft 5 in)
- Length: 7.16 m (23 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 15 m² (161.46 sq ft)
- Max speed: 210 km/h (130 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power: 180 km/h (112 mph)
- Stalling speed: 72 km/h (45 mph)
- Take-off run: 180 m (590 ft)
- Range: 1,200 km (746 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 85 litres (18.7 Imp gals)
- Max glide ratio: 216 m/min (710 ft/min)
- Min sink rate: 0.9m/sec at 80 km/h (50 mph)
- Empty weight: 500 kg (1,102 lb)
- vLoaded weight: 775 kg (1,709 lb)
History:
The Whisper is a self-launched motor-glider produced by Whisper Aircraft of Port Elizabeth in South Africa for the world market. It is powered by a Limbach or similar Volkswagen conversion, being a four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine driving a Hoffman three-position propeller, or a wooden fixed pitch propeller. The type is produced in kit form and is available in motor glider form or as the Whisper Xpress. In cruise using the engine the aircraft consumes 12 litres (2.63 Imp gals) per hour and the aircraft has an aspect ratio of 16. Options include the Jabiru 2200 or Rotax 912 engines, and construction is all composite.
First of the type in Australasia was registered in 2010, becoming VH-ZIP (c/n WA07047) on 28 April 2010 to its owner at Narellan, NSW, initially being based at Camden and later at Wedderburn. A further example became VH-DXN² (c/n WA03001 – ex ZS-GXW) in Western Australia on 7 March 2013.