Silence Twister
The Silence Twister is a German ultralight designed by Silence Aircraft for amateur construction, either from plans or kits.[1] The prototype first flew on 30 September 2000.[2]
Design and development
The Twister is a single-seat low-wing monoplane with elliptical wings and tailplane. It has a retractable conventional landing gear with a fixed tailwheel.[2] The design drew inspiration from the Supermarine Spitfire, and the shapes of the Twister's wings, fin and tailplane all recall the famous World War II fighter. Designed to take engines up to 94 hp (70 kW) the prototype was fitted with a 53.6 hp (40 kW) single-rotor MidWest Wankel engine. This rotary motor was very compact and allowed a sleek engine cowling, but the engine was rejected and production aircraft use the 85 hp (63 kW) Jabiru 2200 as the sole engine option.[2][3]
An electric aircraft version was under development in 2010.[3]
Operational history
Twenty-one examples had been completed and flown by December 2011.[1]
Propeller
The Twister prototype was fitted with Silence Aircraft's own automatic variable-pitch propeller called the "VProp". The LAA have yet to allow the VProp to be fitted on UK aircraft, so UK Twisters have fixed-blade propellers instead.[4]
Specifications (Prototype)
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2003-04[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 6.18 m (20 ft 3 in)
- Wingspan: 7.50 m (24 ft 7 in)
- Wing area: 8.72 m2 (93.9 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 190 kg (419 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 340 kg (750 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Wankel , 40 kW (54 hp)
- Propellers: 2-bladed
Performance
- Cruising speed: 200 km/h (124 mph; 108 kn)
- Stall speed: 65 km/h (40 mph; 35 kn)
- Never exceed speed: 300 km/h (186 mph; 162 kn)
- Range: 1,000 km (621 mi; 540 nmi) max fuel
- g limits: +6/-4
- Rate of climb: 5.6 m/s (1,100 ft/min)
See also
- Flight Team Twister, a different aircraft with the same model name
References
- Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Vandermeullen, Richard: 2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 63. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Jackson 2003, p. 176
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 75. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
- ↑ LAA List of Propellers Approved for Kit Aircraft
- Bibliography
- Jackson, Paul, ed. (2003). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2003-2004. Coulsdon, Surrey, United Kingdom: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.
External links
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