Aviadesign A-16 Sport Falcon

The Aviadesign A-16 Sport Falcon is an American light-sport aircraft that was designed by Aviadesign, a certified aircraft modification company based in Camarillo, California. The A-16 was announced at Sun 'n Fun April 2006 and introduced at the LSA Expo held in Sebring, Florida in 2007. The aircraft was to be supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1][2][3][4][5]

A-16 Sport Falcon
Role Light-sport aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Aviadesign
First flight 2006
Introduction 2007
Status Production completed
Number built 2

Jane's Information Group reports that two prototypes were completed by 2006, but it is not clear if any other examples ever flew before the company went out of business.[3]

Design and development

The aircraft was designed to comply with the US light-sport aircraft rules. It features a strut-braced high-wing, a two-seats-in-tandem enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1][2]

The aircraft is made with a welded steel tubing airframe. Its 29 ft (8.8 m) span wing employs a single strut per side. The standard engine for production examples was intended to be the 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS four-stroke powerplant. Entry to the cockpit is via an airstair door.[1][2]

The design is listed on the Federal Aviation Administration's list of accepted SLSAs, but as no longer in production.[6]

Operational history

In March 2010 reviewer Dan Johnson reported on a test flight in the prototype:

the interior is spacious and comfortable, more so than many other LSAs; handling is predictable with no bad traits I could uncover; the airplane is well equipped and expects to have a price somewhere in the $110,000 range, though this decision is still being reviewed; visibility is enormous, with the pilot sitting about 4 feet in front of the wing; even the aft seat has good room, very good visibility, and full controls — it turns out my smoothest landings were from the rear.[5]

Specifications (A-16)

Data from Bayerl[1][7]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 27 ft (8.2 m)
  • Wingspan: 28 ft 10 in (8.8 m)
  • Wing area: 130 sq ft (12 m2)
  • Empty weight: 739 lb (335 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,232 lb (559 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 80 litres (18 imp gal; 21 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912ULS four cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 101 hp (75 kW)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed Prince Aircraft composite

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 140 mph (220 km/h, 120 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 121 mph (195 km/h, 105 kn)
  • Stall speed: 45 mph (72 km/h, 39 kn)
  • Range: 450 mi (720 km, 390 nmi)
  • g limits: +4/-2
  • Rate of climb: 980 ft/min (5 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 9.55 lb/sq ft (46.6 kg/m2)

References
  1. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 30. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 32. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. Jane's Information Group (2009). "Aviadesign A-16 Sport Falcon (United States), Aircraft - Fixed-wing - Civil". Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  4. Experimental Aircraft Association (15 January 2007). "Bigger and better: Sebring's third LSA expo a rousing success". Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  5. Johnson, Dan (18 March 2010). "New tandem LSA headed to market". General Aviation News. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  6. Federal Aviation Administration (3 March 2015). "SLSA Make/Model Directory". Archived from the original on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  7. Skytamer (2011). "Aviadesign A-16 Sport Falcon two-seat light sport aircraft". Retrieved 9 May 2012.
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