Pro-Composites Personal Cruiser

The Pro-Composites Personal Cruiser, also called the Corvair Cruiser, is a single seat, composite homebuilt aircraft.[1][2][3][4]

Personal Cruiser
Role Homebuilt aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Pro-Composites
Designer Steve Rahm
Status In production (2015)
Personal Cruiser instrument panel

Design and development

The Personal Cruiser is a single place, low-wing, tricycle gear aircraft with a V-tail.[2][5]

The composite aircraft is built using the FOLDaPLANE method. The method uses flexible flat composite panels that are radius-bent to form stiff fuselage sections inside a jig. Building time is estimated at 800 hours.[2][6]

The aircraft is designed for powerplants up to 250 lb (113 kg) in weight and has an acceptable power range of 65 to 115 hp (48 to 86 kW). The 100 hp (75 kW) Corvair air-cooled four stroke automotive conversion is commonly employed.[3][4][7]

Specifications (Personal Cruiser)

Data from Contact! and Bayerl[7]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Length: 17 ft 4 in (5.28 m)
  • Wingspan: 25.5 ft (7.8 m)
  • Wing area: 76.5 sq ft (7.11 m2)
  • Airfoil: Eppler
  • Empty weight: 750 lb (340 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,250 lb (567 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 18 U.S. gallons (68 L; 15 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Chevrolet Turbo-Air 6 engine automotive conversion, 100 hp (75 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed Ground adjustable

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 120 kn (140 mph, 230 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 128 kn (147 mph, 237 km/h)
  • Stall speed: 46 kn (53 mph, 85 km/h)
  • Never exceed speed: 184 kn (212 mph, 341 km/h)
  • Rate of climb: 1,800 ft/min (9.1 m/s)

See also

References
  1. "Pro-Composites". Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  2. Vandermeullen, Richard: 2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 66. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  3. Downey, Julia: 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 53. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  4. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 121. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  5. "Building a Personal Cruiser". Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  6. Aviation News: 33. 1 July 2007. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 115. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
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