Bounsall Super Prospector
{{Short description|American homebuilt STOL aircraft}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Super Prospector | image=File:Bounsall Super Prospector (N307K, cn BSP29NS12) (5-30-2023).jpg | caption=Super Prospector marked as a Cessna L-19 }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Homebuilt aircraft | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Bounsall Aircraft | designer= | first flight= | introduced= | retired= | status= Production completed | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=At least five | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Bounsall Super Prospector is an American STOL homebuilt aircraft that was designed and produced by Bounsall Aircraft of Mesquite, Nevada, introduced in 1990s. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit or in the form of plans for amateur construction.Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 127. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}
Design and development
The Super Prospector has a strut-braced high-wing, a single-seat enclosed cockpit with doors, fixed conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.
The aircraft fuselage is made from welded 4130 steel tubing and an optional pre-welded fuselage frame was available as part of the kit. The wing is predominantly of wooden construction, with all surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric and is supported by "V" struts, with jury struts. Its {{convert|29.67|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing has an area of {{convert|120.8|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}. The acceptable power range is {{convert|50|to|85|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} and the standard powerplant used is a {{convert|60|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Volkswagen air-cooled engine.
The Super Prospector has a typical empty weight of {{convert|440|lb|kg|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|800|lb|kg|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|360|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|12|u.s.gal}} the payload for pilot and baggage is {{convert|288|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.
The aircraft has been noted for its all-around pilot visibility and its STOL performance. Standard day, sea level take off distance is {{convert|300|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} and the landing distance is {{convert|250|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}. The manufacturer estimates the construction time from the supplied kit as 500 hours.
Operational history
By 1998 the company reported that three kits had been sold.
In December 2013 one example was registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration, although at one time five had been registered.{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=SUPER+PROSPECTOR&PageNo=1|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|accessdate = 17 December 2013|last = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 17 December 2013}}
Specifications (Super Prospector)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=
|length m=
|length ft=19
|length in=4
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=29
|span in=8
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=120.8
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=440
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=800
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|12|u.s.gal}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Volkswagen air-cooled engine
|eng1 type=four cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke automotive conversion engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=60
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=wooden
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=100
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=90
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=36
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=300
|range nmi=
|range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=12000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=600
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|sink rate ms=
|sink rate ftmin=
|sink rate note=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=6.6
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20131217221610/http://i.ebayimg.com/t/BOUNSALL-SUPER-PROSPECTOR-COMPLETE-PLANS-69-95-/00/s/MTY5WDMxMg%3D%3D/%24T2eC16Z%2C%21ykE9s7t%292UyBQgZb6RWG%21~~60_35.JPG Photo of a Super Prospector]
Category:1990s United States civil utility aircraft
Category:1990s United States ultralight aircraft