Aerodyne Systems Vector
{{Short description|American ultralight aircraft}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Vector | image=Aerodyne Vector 610 ‘LN-YAC’ (42353104390).jpg | caption=Aerodyne Vector 610 at Flyhistorisk Museum, Sola }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Ultralight aircraft | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Aerodyne Systems | designer= | first flight= | introduced=1982 | retired= | status=Production completed | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= | developed from= Hill Humbug | variants with their own articles=Ultralight Flight Mirage }} |
The Aerodyne Systems Vector is a family of American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Berndt Petterson, Mike McCarron and Paul Yarnell and produced by Aerodyne Systems, introduced in 1982. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page E-42. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}{{Cite web|url = http://virtualultralightmuseum.com/uz.htm#vector600|title = Vector 600|accessdate = 3 January 2012|last = Virtual Ultralight Museum|date = n.d.}}
Design and development
The Vector owes many of its design concepts to the earlier Hill Humbug and was later to inspire and influence the Ultralight Flight Mirage.
The Vector was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of {{convert|254|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. The aircraft has a standard empty weight of {{convert|195|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. It features a cable-braced high-wing, V-tail, a single-seat, open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.
The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its flying surfaces covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 80% double-surface {{convert|35.2|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing is supported by cables running from an inverted "V" kingpost. The landing gear's nose wheel is not steerable and a small tail caster is provided. The pilot is accommodated on an open seat, without a windshield. The engine is mounted at the wing's leading edge and powers the trailing edge-mounted pusher propeller through an extension shaft.
The Vector series was very popular in its day and a great number were produced.
Variants
;Vector 600
:Initial model, with a two-axis control system, powered by two {{convert|9|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Chrysler engines.
;Vector 610
:Improved model, with a structurally strengthened airframe, enlarged spoilers, elliptical wing tip extensions and powered by a single {{convert|22|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Zenoah G-25B single cylinder, two-stroke engine.
;Vector 627
:Powered by a single {{convert|28|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} single cylinder, two-stroke Rotax 277 engine.
;Vector 627 SR
:Powered by a single {{convert|35|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} single cylinder, two-stroke Rotax 377 engine.
Specifications (Vector 610)
{{Aircraft specs
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|empty weight lb=195
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|gross weight lb=445
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|fuel capacity={{convert|5|u.s.gal}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Zenoah G-25B
|eng1 type=single cylinder, two-stroke aircraft engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=22
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|cruise speed mph=45
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|stall speed mph=26
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|range miles=125
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|g limits=+5.7/-2.8
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|climb rate ftmin=600
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://virtualultralightmuseum.com/vector1000cc.jpg Photo of Vector 610]
Category:1980s United States ultralight aircraft
Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft