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Stanton Sunbird
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The Sunbird is a single-seater homebuilt motor glider, designed and built in New Zealand by Charles Stanton. It first flew in 1995, and was retired in 2005.[1]
Key Information
Design and development
[edit]Charles Stanton of Nelson, New Zealand had previously built and flown an AmEagle American Eaglet motor glider, registration ZK-GOE (c/n AACA/641).[2] That craft's registration was cancelled in 1992. Stanton then went on to design and build a motor glider, and utilised components from the American Eaglet. Construction took over three years, and was completed by early 1995.
The Sunbird was a self-launching motor glider.[3] It was a high-wing monoplane of conventional configuration, with a pod-and-boom style of fuselage. The cantilevered wing had no dihedral and its planform was of constant chord with a tapered outer section. The pilot was housed in a small faired nacelle. The engine was located at the rear of the nacelle, and powered a two-bladed folding propeller.[1] The engine was a 21 kW (28 hp) Rotax 277, which could be re-started in flight.[4] The empennage was of the standard type arranged in a cruciform configuration. The undercarriage was a fixed monowheel fitted with a wheel spat. The Sunbird met the New Zealand specifications for Class 1 Microlights, and was issued with the registration ZK-JEA.[3]
Operational history
[edit]It first flew on 26 February 1995, with Stanton reportedly making numerous flights in it over the next ten years. On one flight, it reached an altitude of 4,000 m (13,000 ft). Another flight lasted for 3+1⁄2 hours. The craft's final flight took place on 16 April 2005. It was donated to the Ashburton Aviation Museum on 4 December 2005, during the Museum's Christmas Party.[3]
Specifications
[edit]Data from NZ Civil Aircraft [3]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Wingspan: 12.80 m (42 ft 0 in)
- Wing area: 9.20 m2 (99.0 sq ft)
- Aspect ratio: 17.80
- Airfoil: Eppler 748 High Lift
- Empty weight: 142 kg (313 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 239 kg (527 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 277 two stroke, 21 kW (28 hp)
- Propellers: 2-bladed
Performance
- Cruise speed: 90 km/h (56 mph, 49 kn)
- Stall speed: 51 km/h (32 mph, 28 kn)
- Never exceed speed: 132 km/h (82 mph, 71 kn)
- Service ceiling: 3,962 m (12,999 ft)
- g limits: ±4.4
- Wing loading: 26.0 kg/m2 (5.3 lb/sq ft)
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Stanton Sunbird Glider". Ashburton Aviation Museum. Ashburton Aviation Museum. 2013. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ Paull, David (28 February 2012). "American Eaglets of New Zealand". NZ Civil Aircraft. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ a b c d Paull, David (4 February 2012). "Question time # 146 not resolved". NZ Civil Aircraft. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ "Stanton Sunbird". www.all-aero.com. all-aero. 2023. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
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