Comp Air 8

{{Short description|American light aircraft}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}

{{Infobox aircraft

| name=Comp Air 8

| image=Aerocomp Comp Air 8 N555RW LKL 29.03.11R edited-2.jpg

| caption=Comp Air 8 on amphibious floats

| type=Kit built light civil utility aircraft

| national_origin=United States

| manufacturer=Comp Air

| designer=

| first_flight=

| introduction=

| retired=

| status=Production completed

| primary_user=

| more_users=

| produced= 2000-2021

| number_built=25 (2011)

| developed_from=

| variants=

}}

The Comp Air 8 is an American kit turboprop-powered light civil utility aircraft that was manufactured by Comp Air of Florida from about 2000 until 2021.Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 49. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851{{Cite web|url = http://www.aerocompinc.com/airplanes/CA8/index.htm|title = Comp Air 8 Turbine|accessdate = 21 April 2011|author = Comp Air|authorlink = Comp Air|year = 2006|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210515174756/http://www.aerocompinc.com/airplanes/CA8/index.htm|archive-date= 15 May 2021|url-status=dead}}Downey, Julia: 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 47. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 91. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485XTacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, pages 92. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}

The aircraft's webpage was removed in 2021 and the new company website does not list it as being in production in 2022.{{cite web|url= http://www.compairaviation.com/|title= Home|access-date= 16 August 2022|author= Comp Air|author-link= Comp Air|work= compairaviation.com|archive-url= https://archive.today/20220816123622/http://www.compairaviation.com/|archive-date= 16 August 2022|url-status= live}}

Design and development

The aircraft is a Comp Air 7 with its fuselage stretched by 2 feet (0.6 m) to accommodate six adults and two children. The Comp Air 8 is configured as a conventional high-wing monoplane with optional tailwheel or tricycle undercarriage. It can be fitted with large floats for water operations.

The Comp Air 8 fuselage and tail are constructed with carbon fiber. Fuel capacity can be determined by the builder and can be as much as {{convert|180|u.s.gal}}. The useful load is {{convert|2000|to|2500|lb|0|abbr=on}} and the aircraft has a standard gross weight of {{convert|4800|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. The gross weight can be increased to {{convert|5200|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} or even {{convert|5600|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} with factory-supplied reinforcing kits. The standard engine used is the Walter M 601D of {{convert|657|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}

Kit production seems to have ended in 2021.

Operational history

In August 2022 there were seven Comp Air 8s registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.{{cite web|url = https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/MakeModelInquiry|title = Make / Model Inquiry|accessdate = 16 August 2022|author = Federal Aviation Administration|author-link = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 16 August 2022}}

Specifications (Comp Air 8)

File:Aerocomp Comp Air 8 AN1030149.jpg]]

File:N3WQ In California.jpg]]

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Comp Air{{Cite web|url = http://www.aerocompinc.com/airplanes/CA8/comp_air_8_turbine3.htm|title = Comp Air 8 Turbine Specs|accessdate = 21 April 2011|author = Comp Air|authorlink = Comp Air|year = 2006|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210423024742/http://www.aerocompinc.com/airplanes/CA8/comp_air_8_turbine3.htm|archive-date= 23 April 2021|url-status= dead}}

|prime units?=imp

|genhide=

|crew=one

|capacity=seven passengers

|length m=

|length ft=31

|length in=6

|length note=

|span m=

|span ft=33

|span in=0

|span note=

|height m=

|height ft=9

|height in=0

|height note=

|wing area sqm=

|wing area sqft=237

|wing area note=

|aspect ratio=

|airfoil=

|empty weight kg=

|empty weight lb=2800

|empty weight note=

|gross weight kg=

|gross weight lb=4800

|gross weight note=

|max takeoff weight kg=

|max takeoff weight lb=5600

|max takeoff weight note=with gross weight increase kit

|fuel capacity=150 US gallons (568 litres)

|more general=

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=Walter M 601D

|eng1 type=turboprop

|eng1 kw=

|eng1 hp=

|eng1 shp=657

|prop blade number=3

|prop name=AVIA constant speed, feathering, with reverse

|prop dia m=

|prop dia ft=

|prop dia in=

|prop note=

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=

|max speed mph=

|max speed kts=

|max speed note=

|cruise speed kmh=

|cruise speed mph=225

|cruise speed kts=

|cruise speed note=True airspeed

|stall speed kmh=

|stall speed mph=

|stall speed kts=

|stall speed note=

|never exceed speed kmh=

|never exceed speed mph=229

|never exceed speed kts=

|never exceed speed note=Indicated airspeed

|range km=

|range miles=

|range nmi=

|range note=

|endurance=

|ceiling m=

|ceiling ft=

|ceiling note=

|g limits=

|roll rate=

|glide ratio=

|climb rate ms=

|climb rate ftmin=

|climb rate note=

|time to altitude=

|lift to drag=

|wing loading kg/m2=

|wing loading lb/sqft=

|wing loading note=

|fuel consumption kg/km=

|fuel consumption lb/mi=

|power/mass=

|thrust/weight=

|more performance=*Fuel consumption: 35-37 US gallons per hour fuel burn (133-140 L/h)

|avionics=

}}

References

{{Reflist}}