Sonaca 200
| Sonaca 200 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sonaca 200's initial prototype assembled by The Airplane Factory in 2015 | |
| Role | Very Light Aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Sonaca Aircraft |
| Designer | Mike Blyth |
| Introduction | 2017 |
| Produced | 0 |
| Number built | 2 (Prototype) |
| Developed from | The Airplane Factory Sling 2 |
The Sonaca 200 is a Belgian two-seat training aircraft designed and built by Sonaca Aircraft.
Design and development
The Sonaca 200 is a low-wing cantilever monoplane made form aluminium alloy, it has an enclosed cabin with two side-by-side seats. It is powered by a 115 hp Rotax 914 and has a fixed landing gear with a nose-wheel.
In late 2015, the Sonaca group announced the creation of the subsidiary “Sonaca Aircraft” dedicated to the development, certification and market launch of a new training aircraft named "Sonaca Sling"[1] or "Sonaca Sling 2"[2]. As it was based on TAF's Sling 2. Later the aircraft was renamed as Sonaca 200. The single-engine two-seater, specifically designed for pilots' training and leisure flights, is under certification as of April 2017. Sonaca 200 is to be EASA certified for a maximum take-off weight of 750 kg and a cruise speed of 115 knots. In addition to the obtention of the type certification, Sonaca Aircraft has initiated a procedure of Design Organisation Approval (DOA) and Production Organisations Approvals (POA) certification.
An initial prototype was assembled, in April 2015, at Johannesburg by The Airplane Factory. In April 2017, Sonaca Aircraft unveiled the new version of the Sonaca 200 in which 80% of the structure has been redesigned compared to the initial "Amateur Construction" prototype version.
Specification
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 pilot
- Capacity: 1 passenger or trainee
- Length: 7 m (23 ft 0 in)
- Wingspan: 9.15 m (30 ft 0 in)
- Max takeoff weight: 750 kg (1,653 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 140 L
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 914F four-stroke piston engine, 86 kW (115 hp)
Performance
- Cruise speed: 213 km/h; 132 mph (115 kn)
- Rate of climb: 3.8 m/s (750 ft/min)
References
- ↑ tijd.be - Belgisch sportvliegtuig neemt Cessna in vizier date:sept. 16 2015 author: Jens Cardinaels, visited july 11th 2017
- ↑ airplanefactory.co.za - The Airplane Factory SONACA Sling 2 to Belgium 20 april 2015