Skyrider Sonic

The Skyrider Sonic is a German ultralight trike, designed and produced by Skyrider Flugschule. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1]

Sonic
Role Ultralight trike
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Skyrider Flugschule
Status In production (2011)

Design and development

The Sonic was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, including the category's maximum gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb). The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb). It features a strut-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1]

The aircraft is made from square welded stainless steel tubing, with its double surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 9.8 m (32.2 ft) span Hazard 12 wing is supported by struts and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplant is a four stroke turbocharged 85 hp (63 kW) Smart Car automotive conversion engine or, optionally, a twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 aircraft engine.[1]

With the Smart car engine the Sonic has an empty weight of 165 kg (364 lb) and a gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb), giving a useful load of 285 kg (628 lb). With full fuel of 60 litres (13 imp gal; 16 US gal) the payload is 221 kg (487 lb).[1]

The Sonic's trike structure is also incorporated in the Ramphos Trident amphibious trike.[1]

Specifications (Sonic)

Data from Bayerl[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Wingspan: 9.8 m (32 ft 2 in)
  • Wing area: 12 m2 (130 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 165 kg (364 lb)
  • Gross weight: 450 kg (992 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 60 litres (13 imp gal; 16 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Smart Car turbocharged, four stroke automotive engine, 63 kW (85 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed composite

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 160 km/h (99 mph, 86 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 125 km/h (78 mph, 67 kn)
  • Stall speed: 55 km/h (34 mph, 30 kn)
  • Rate of climb: 7.5 m/s (1,480 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 37.5 kg/m2 (7.7 lb/sq ft)

References

  1. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, pages 220 and 221. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
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