Aviate Raptor
{{Short description|South African ultralight trike aircraft}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use South African English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Raptor | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Ultralight trike | national origin=South Africa | manufacturer=Aviate Products | designer= Manfred Springer | first flight= | introduced=1992 | retired= | status=Production completed | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=50 (2000) | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Aviate Raptor is a South African two-seat ultralight trike that was designed by Manfred Springer and produced by Aviate Products of Booysens. The aircraft was introduced in 1992 and supplied as a kit for amateur construction.Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page C-12. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 96. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
Design and development
The Raptor was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, including the category's maximum gross weight of {{convert|450|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. It also carries South African government certification. The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of {{convert|450|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. It features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.
The aircraft is made from steel tubing, with its double-surface Raptor 17 XP wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its {{convert|10.5|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing incorporates 34 stiffening battens, is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame control bar. The basic aircraft offered a standard {{convert|30|kW|hp|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 447 twin cylinder, two stroke, air-cooled, single ignition engine, while the Raptor 912 model came equipped with the {{convert|60|kW|hp|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 912UL four cylinder, four-stroke air- and liquid-cooled, dual ignition engine. The {{convert|48|kW|hp|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 582 was also a factory option. The aircraft was supplied as a kit that requires 20 to 30 hours to assemble.
Factory standard equipment included two bucket seats, side skirts with integral saddle bags and a nose wheel fender. In 2000 the carriage cost US$3500 and the Raptor 17 XP wing cost $4500. The aircraft's carriage was designed so that it would also accept French Cosmos ULM wings. Fifty examples had been delivered by 2000.
Variants
;Raptor
:Basic model introduced in 1996 with {{convert|30|kW|hp|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 447 or {{convert|48|kW|hp|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 582 engine
;Raptor 912
:Model introduced in 2000, equipped with the {{convert|60|kW|hp|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 912UL engine and came standard from the factory with many optional extras
Specifications (version)
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|capacity=one passenger
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|empty weight kg=163
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|gross weight kg=450
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|fuel capacity={{convert|50|L}}
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|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Rotax 582
|eng1 type=twin cylinder, two-stroke, liquid-cooled, aircraft engine
|eng1 kw=48
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|max speed kmh=116
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|cruise speed kmh=80
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|stall speed kmh=51
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References
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External links
- [http://www.airliners.net/photo/1493657/ Photo of a Raptor in flight]
Category:1990s South African ultralight aircraft