| Aero Concepts | |
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HW100 - 45000
UAW55 - 105000 RRW100 - 175000 PKRR - 7500 |
Aero Concepts Discovery 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 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. 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. 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. The company plans to develop the design into a light-sport aircraft, a jet-powered version and four-seat variant as well. Operational history By the end of 2011 three examples had been reported as completed and flown. Specifications (Discovery) Data from Kitplanes 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) |