Aero Concepts Discovery

The Aero Concepts Discovery is an American amateur-built aircraft, produced by Aero Concepts of Florida. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1]

Discovery
Role Amateur-built aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Aero Concepts
Designer Martin Hollmann
Introduction mid-1990s
Status In production (2011)
Number built 3

Design and development

The Discovery is a three lifting surface aircraft that features a cantilever mid-wing, a twin boom high tail, a canard surface, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit, fixed tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1]

The aircraft is made from composites. Its 30 ft (9.1 m) span wing employs a NASA NLF-0215 airfoil and has an area of 125 sq ft (11.6 m2). The canard uses the same airfoil, while the tailplane uses a NASA 63218. The aircraft's recommended engine power range is 160 to 230 hp (119 to 172 kW) and standard engines used include the 180 hp (134 kW) Lycoming O-360 four-stroke powerplant. Construction time from the supplied kit is 1200 hours.[1][2]

The company plans to develop the design into a light-sport aircraft, a jet-powered version and four-seat variant as well.[2]

Operational history

By the end of 2011 three examples had been reported as completed and flown.[1]

Specifications (Discovery)

Data from Kitplanes[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 17.9 ft (5.5 m)
  • Wingspan: 30 ft (9.1 m)
  • Wing area: 125 sq ft (11.6 m2)
  • Empty weight: 860 lb (390 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,620 lb (735 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 30 U.S. gallons (110 L; 25 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-360 four cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 180 hp (130 kW)

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 225 mph (362 km/h, 196 kn)
  • Stall speed: 58 mph (93 km/h, 50 kn)
  • Range: 650 mi (1,050 km, 560 nmi)
  • Rate of climb: 2,300 ft/min (12 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 13.0 lb/sq ft (63 kg/m2)

References
  1. Vandermeullen, Richard: 2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 38. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  2. Aero Concepts (2001). "Discovery Specifications". Archived from the original on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.