Sport Performance Aviation Panther

The Sport Performance Aviation Panther is a single seat, all-metal, homebuilt aircraft under development by Sport Performance Aviation of Green Cove Springs, Florida. The aircraft is intended to be supplied as plans and as a kit for amateur construction.[1][2]

Panther
Role Homebuilt Aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Sport Performance Aviation LLC
Designer Dan Weseman
First flight 23 April 2013
Number built 25

Design

The Panther is a single seat, low wing aircraft, built of aluminum with a bubble canopy. The forward fuselage is constructed from welded 4130 steel tubing, with the aft fuselage, tail and wings made from 2024-T3 aluminum sheet. The landing gear can be assembled in either tricycle or conventional gear arrangements. The wings are designed to be folded for storage or ground transport. The design can accept engines from 80 to 160 hp (60 to 119 kW).[2][3]

Variants

Two variants are available.[4]

Panther Sport
21.5 ft (6.6 m) wing span, Engines from 100-160hp with a 1,150 lb (522 kg) gross weight, 27.5 U.S. gallons (104 L; 22.9 imp gal) of fuel.
Panther LSA
Panther LSA
23.5 ft (7.2 m) wing span, Engine options from 100-130hp, 21–27.5 U.S. gallons (79–104 L; 17.5–22.9 imp gal) of fuel. Meets performance requirements for the US light-sport aircraft category.

Specifications (Panther LSA)

Data from EAA[5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 19 ft (5.8 m)
  • Wingspan: 23.5 ft (7.2 m)
  • Wing area: 93 sq ft (8.6 m2)
  • Empty weight: 700–775 lb (318–352 kg) Note: Empty weight varies with powerplant and equipment options
  • Gross weight: 1,115 lb (506 kg) (Note: Any weight above 1015 lbs. must be due to fuel in wings)
  • Fuel capacity: 21–27.5 U.S. gallons (79–104 L; 17.5–22.9 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Chevrolet Corvair engine conversion. Possible engines, Corvair, TCM O-200/O-240, Franklin 4B-235, Lycoming 0-233/0-235, various UL Power, Jabiru 3300. horizontally opposed piston engine, 100–130 hp (75–97 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 160 kn (180 mph, 290 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 140–160 kn (160–180 mph, 260–290 km/h)
  • Stall speed: 44 kn (51 mph, 82 km/h) TAS
  • Never exceed speed: 170 kn (200 mph, 320 km/h)
  • g limits: +6/-3
  • Wing loading: 11.99 lb/sq ft (58.5 kg/m2)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. "Sports Performance Aircraft Displays Single Seat Panther Prototype At AirVenture". Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  2. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 127. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. "Sport Performance Aviation Offers Panther Kit Plane". Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  4. "Panther updates". Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  5. "Sport Performance Aviation Offers Panther Kit Plane". Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
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