V-STOL Solution

Solution
Role Ultralight aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer V-STOL Aircraft
Designer Dick Turner
Introduction 1998
Status Production completed

The V-STOL Solution is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Dick Turner in 1998 and produced by V-STOL Aircraft. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1][2]

Design and development

The design goal of the Solution was to produce a legal US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles regulations compliant single seat ultralight that could be easily converted to a two-seater with the addition of a second seat and a larger engine. FAR Part 103 specifies a maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg) and the Solution has a standard empty weight of 246 lb (112 kg). It features a cable-braced high-wing, a single-seat, open cockpit, conventional landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1][2]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminium tubing, with the flying surfaces covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 33 ft (10.1 m) span wing has a wing area of 183 sq ft (17.0 m2), which is large enough to support a second person. The second seat would be installed behind the first, in tandem, and could be optionally equipped with dual controls.[1][2]

The pilot is accommodated on an open seat and has conventional three-axis controls in the form of a centre stick and rudder pedals. The standard engine provided for single seat flying was the single cylinder two-stroke Rotax 277 of 28 hp (21 kW), while larger engines could be installed for two-seat operations.[1]

V-STOL Aircraft had the design on the market for only a short period of time before the company went out of business. Assembly time from the kit is estimated at 50 hours.[1][2]

Specifications (Solution single-seat)

Data from Cliche and the Virtual Ultralight Museum[1][2]

General characteristics

Performance

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page E-37 Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
  2. ^ a b c d e Virtual Ultralight Museum (undated). "Solution". http://virtualultralightmuseum.com/so.htm#solution. Retrieved 7 December 2011.