InterPlane Skyboy

Interplane Skyboy - front view showing the unusual main landing gear

Interplane Skyboy - showing doors and interior accommodation

The Skyboy was designed in 1992 specifically for the German market as a trainer. It was adapted for the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles category for use as a two-seat trainer under the FAR 103 trainer exemption. It later became available as a US light-sport aircraft. The aircraft is available in Canada as an Advanced Ultralight Aeroplane.[4][5]

The Skyboy wing is built from aluminum extrusions for the spars and wing ribs and covered with doped aircraft fabric. The wing's leading edge is Mylar covered in fabric, to increase stiffness. The wing is supported by "V" struts and utilizes jury struts. The fuselage is built upon an aluminum main tube that runs from the tail right to the rudder pedals. The wings and horizontal tail surfaces can be folded for trailering or storage. The cabin is constructed from two fibreglass shells, joined together. The rear of the cabin is covered in aircraft fabric. The optional cabin doors open upwards.[2][3]

Controls are conventional three-axis. The control stick is a centrally mounted "Y" stick, between the two seats that can be used from either seat.[3]

The Skyboy has a distinctive main landing gear, consisting of a trailing idler link, with suspension consisting of a coil spring mounted over a shock absorber. The company describes the main landing gear: "one of the best landing gears in the market (makes bad landings look good)".[3][4]

The available engines include the 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582, 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912, 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912S and the 85 hp (63 kW) Jabiru 2200. The 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 was available at the beginning of production, but did not provide adequate performance.[6]

The Skyboy has never been available as a kit aircraft, but only as a factory-complete, ready-to-fly product. Labour wage levels in the Czech Republic have meant that its price has been generally similar to buying unassembled kits for North American buyers. In 2008 the completed Skyboy base model sold for about US$60,000.[3][4]

Aside from its flight training and recreational aircraft roles, the Skyboy has been employed in South Africa for surveillance duties, in Australia for professional aerial photography and in Mexico for tourist sightseeing flights.[4]

Skyboy UL

To stay below the exemption's 496 lb (225 kg) empty weight limit the aircraft was marketed without cabin doors, wheel pants and hydraulic brakes, using mechanical brakes instead and with a 904 lb (410 kg) gross weight. The initial engine was the 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 and later the 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582.[3]

Skyboy S

Higher 1,232 lb (559 kg) gross weight version for Europe and Canada, with the 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 or larger engines.[2][5]

Skyboy ZK

1,000 lb (454 kg) gross weight version, with the 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine.[5]

Data from Purdy, Cliche & InterPlane[2][3][6]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: one passenger
• Length: 20 ft 0 in (6.10 m)
• Wingspan: 34 ft 5 in (10.49 m)
• Wing area: 163.6 sq ft (15.20 m²)
• Empty weight: 490 lb (222 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,000 lb (454 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 10 US gallons (38 litres)
• Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 582 twin cylinder two-stroke aircraft engine, 64 hp (48 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 90 mph (140 km/h, 78 kn)
• Cruise speed: 68 mph (109 km/h, 59 kn)
• Stall speed: 40 mph (64 km/h, 35 kn)
• Never exceed speed: 128 mph (206 km/h, 111 kn)
• Range: 200 mi (320 km, 170 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 9,000 ft (2,700 m)
• Maximum glide ratio: 7:1
• Rate of climb: 630 ft/min (3.2 m/s)

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Birdman WT-11 Chinook
• Spectrum RX-28 Beaver

Notes

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to InterPlane Skyboy.

• Official website