Spartan DFS Trike
| DFS Trike | |
|---|---|
| Role | Ultralight trike and powered parachute |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Spartan Microlights |
| Status | In production |
The Spartan DFS Trike is an American ultralight aircraft designed and produced by Spartan Microlights. The aircraft was the first ultralight introduced that could be flown with a hang glider-style wing as an ultralight trike or with a powered parachute wing.[1][2][3]
The designation of DFS stands for Dual Face System, referring to its ability to mount either hang glider or powered parachute wings.[3]
Design and development
[edit]The aircraft was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 212 lb (96 kg) with a Daedalus 190 hang glider wing. It features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a single-seat open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration. In powered parachute mode it uses a Shuttle GRX canopy and is controlled with aerodynamic brakes.[1][2]
The aircraft fuselage is made from aluminum tubing, while the hang glider wing is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing and covered in Dacron sailcloth. The hang glider wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame control bar. A fiberglass cockpit fairing, windshield, brakes and floats are optional. The original engine supplied was the Rotax 277 single cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled aircraft engine of 28 hp (21 kW), which is now out-of-production. Present engines available include the 28 hp (21 kW) Zanzottera MZ 34, 28 hp (21 kW) Hirth F-33 and the 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447.[1][2]
In 2012 the aircraft was marketed under the name DFS Single.[4]
Specifications (DFS with hang glider wing)
[edit]Data from Cliche[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Wing area: 199 sq ft (18.5 m2)
- Empty weight: 212 lb (96 kg)
- Gross weight: 462 lb (210 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 277 single cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled aircraft engine, 28 hp (21 kW)
Performance
- Cruise speed: 34 mph (55 km/h, 30 kn)
- Rate of climb: 900 ft/min (4.6 m/s)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page C-27. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
- ^ a b c Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 111. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
- ^ a b Downey, Julia: 2000 Trike and 'Chute Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 2, February 2000, page 54. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851
- ^ Spartan Microlights (1998). "Products". Archived from the original on January 15, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
External links
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