Flight Team Spider
| Spider | |
|---|---|
| Role | Ultralight trike |
| National origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Flight Team UG & Company AG |
| Status | In production (2013) |
| Produced | 1992-present |
| Number built | several hundred |
| Variants | Flight Team Twister |
The Flight Team Spider is a German ultralight trike, designed by Flight Team UG & Company AG of Ippesheim and produced under subcontract by Pipistrel of Ajdovščina, Slovenia. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1]
In production since 1992, several hundred Spiders have been delivered to customers.[1]
Design and development
The Spider was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, including the category's maximum gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb). The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb). It features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit with a cockpit fairing, tricycle landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1]
In its Spider XL version the aircraft is made from TIG-welded, powder coated steel tubing, with its double surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 9.5 m (31.2 ft) span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The main landing gear is suspended by fibreglass gear legs. The powerplant is a twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine.[1]
The aircraft has an empty weight of 180 kg (397 lb) and a gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb), giving a useful load of 270 kg (595 lb). With full fuel of 42 litres (9.2 imp gal; 11 US gal) the payload is 240 kg (529 lb).[1]
A number of different wings can be fitted to the basic carriage, including those built by Air Creation. Flight Team is the Air Creation importer for Germany.[1]
Variants
- Spider XL
- Current production model.[1]
Specifications (Spider XL)
Data from Bayerl[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Wingspan: 9.5 m (31 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 12 m2 (130 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 180 kg (397 lb)
- Gross weight: 450 kg (992 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 42 litres (9.2 imp gal; 11 US gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 582 twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 48 kW (64 hp)
- Propellers: 2-bladed wooden
Performance
- Maximum speed: 130 km/h (81 mph; 70 kn)
- Cruise speed: 100 km/h (62 mph; 54 kn)
- Stall speed: 55 km/h (34 mph; 30 kn)
- Wing loading: 37.5 kg/m2 (7.7 lb/sq ft)