BDC Aero Puma
| Puma | |
|---|---|
| Role | Ultralight aircraft and Light-sport aircraft |
| National origin | Canada |
| Manufacturer | BDC Aero Industrie |
| Designer | Antonio Bortolanza |
| Status | In production (2012) |
| Unit cost |
US$86,500 (2011) |
The BDC Aero Puma is a Canadian ultralight and light-sport aircraft, designed by the Italian aircraft designer Antonio Bortolanza and produced by BDC Aero Industrie of Lachute, Quebec. The aircraft is supplied as a 90% complete kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1][2][3]
Design and development
The Puma was originally called the Pluto by Bortolanza when he first designed it in the mid-1980s. Later it was known as the Drakken (Swedish for "dragon") before being renamed Puma when production was moved to Canada in 2005.[1][3]
The aircraft was redesigned from the original prototypes to comply with the Canadian Advanced Ultralight rules and US light-sport aircraft rules. It features a strut-braced high-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit with composite doors for access, fixed tricycle landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in tractor configuration.[1]
The aircraft is made with an aluminum wing and composite fuselage. Its 28 ft (8.5 m) span wing has an area of 124 sq ft (11.5 m2) and flaps. Standard engines available are the 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912UL and the 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS four-stroke powerplants. The factory-supplied kit is 90% complete and requires the builder to paint the airframe and procure and install the engine and instruments.[1][4]
The Puma is an approved Transport Canada Advanced Ultralight, but, as of August 2012, does not appear on the Federal Aviation Administration light-sport aircraft list.[2][5]
Operational history
The Puma's manufacturer states "Many flying schools have adopted the PUMA as their training plane".[3] In August 2012 there were four Pumas registered with Transport Canada and none registered in the United States.[6][7]
Specifications (Puma)
Data from Bayerl and manufacturer[1][8]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Length: 20.8 ft (6.3 m)
- Wingspan: 28 ft 0 in (8.53 m)
- Wing area: 124 sq ft (11.5 m2)
- Empty weight: 662 lb (300 kg)
- Gross weight: 1,232 lb (559 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 24 U.S. gallons (91 L; 20 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912UL four cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 80 hp (60 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed, 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) diameter
Performance
- Maximum speed: 124 mph; 108 kn (200 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 120 mph (104 kn; 193 km/h)
- Stall speed: 44 mph (38 kn; 71 km/h)
- G limits: +4g/-2g
- Maximum glide ratio: 11.1
- Rate of climb: 900 ft/min (4.6 m/s)
- Wing loading: 9.9 lb/sq ft (48 kg/m2)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 71. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Transport Canada (15 August 2012). "Listing of Models Eligible to be Registered as Advanced Ultra-Light Aeroplanes (AULA)". Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Puma-Aircraft History". Puma-aircraft.com. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
- ↑ "Puma-Aircraft Kit Price". Puma-aircraft.com. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
- ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (21 June 2012). "SLSA Make/Model Directory". Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ↑ Transport Canada (August 2012). "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register". Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (August 2012). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ↑ "Puma-Aircraft Characteristics". Puma-aircraft.com. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
External links
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