Fly Synthesis Texan
{{Short description|Italian ultralight aircraft}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name = Texan | image = Fly Synthesis Texan Top Class taxiing down Coomalie Creek Airfield during the 2012 Merlin Magic.jpg | caption = }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type = Ultralight aircraft and Light-sport aircraft | national origin = Italy | manufacturer = Gryphen Aircraft | designer = | first flight = | introduced = 1999 | retired = | status = In production | primary user = | more users = | produced = 1999-present | number built = | developed from = | variants with their own articles = }} |
The Texan is an Italian ultralight and light-sport aircraft, designed and now produced by Gryphen Aircraft Industries Srl (ex- Fly Synthesis) and which has been in production since 1999. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 52. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485XTacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 55. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}
Design and development
The aircraft was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight rules and US light-sport aircraft rules. It features a cantilever low-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed or retractable tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.
The aircraft is made from carbon fibre. Its {{convert|8.60|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has an area of {{convert|11.80|m2|sqft|abbr=on}} and flaps. Standard engines available are the {{convert|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 912UL, the {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 912ULS and the {{convert|85|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Jabiru 2200 four-stroke powerplants.
In 2022 a new version of the TEXAN was introduced, with retractable gear and Rotax 915 engine, producing 141HP
Operational history
On 23 November 2013, six Texans broke the Guinness world record for the lowest flying formation by flying at {{convert|422|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} below sea level at the Dead Sea in Israel.AOPA Israel (November 2013) [http://www.aopa.org.il/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/guinness-record-190114_2.pdf New Israeli Guinness Record of lowest, below sea level, formation flight has been broken 23 November 2013], retrieved 13 March 2014
Variants
;Texan 600
:Version with a gross weight of {{convert|600|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} and with fixed landing gear, for the United States light-sport aircraft class. Known as the Lafayette Texan in the US.
;Texan Top Class
:Version with a gross weight of {{convert|472.5|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} and with fixed landing gear, for the European microlight aircraft class.
;Texan Club
:Version of the Texan Top Class with a gross weight of {{convert|472.5|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}, with fixed landing gear and equipped with an {{convert|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 912UL engine for the European microlight aircraft class.
;Texan RG
:Version of the Texan Top Class with a gross weight of {{convert|600|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} and retractable landing gear for the European microlight aircraft class.
Specifications (the new - Texan GTR 915)
File:Flysynthesis Texan wefly Team 2009 13.jpg in 2009]]
{{Aircraft specs
| ref = Bayerl {{cite web|url = http://www.flysynthesis.com/en/aerei/texan/topclass/page23.html|title = Aircraft description|accessdate = 27 June 2012|last = Fly Synthesis|year = 2011}}
| prime units? = met
| genhide =
| crew = one
| capacity = one passenger
| length m = 6.99
| length ft =
| length in =
| length note =
| span m = 8.60
| span ft =
| span in =
| span note =
| height m = 2.40
| height ft =
| height in =
| height note =
| wing area sqm = 11.80
| wing area sqft =
| wing area note =
| aspect ratio =
| airfoil =
| empty weight kg = 380
| empty weight lb =
| empty weight note =
| gross weight kg = 600
| gross weight lb =
| gross weight note =
| fuel capacity = {{convert|130|L}} in two {{convert|65|L}} tanks
| more general =
| eng1 number = 1
| eng1 name = Rotax 915 iS
| eng1 type = four cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine
| eng1 hp = 143
| prop blade number = 3
| prop name = Woodcomp
| prop dia m =
| prop dia ft =
| prop dia in =
| prop note =
| perfhide =
| max speed kmh = 289
| max speed mph =
| max speed kts =
| max speed note =
| cruise speed kmh = 225
| cruise speed mph =
| cruise speed kts =
| cruise speed note =
| stall speed kmh = 64
| stall speed mph =
| 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 =
| range nmi = 700
| range note =
| endurance =
| ceiling m =
| ceiling ft =
| ceiling note =
| g limits = +4/-2
| roll rate =
| glide ratio =
| climb rate ms = 7
| climb rate ftmin =
| climb rate note =
| time to altitude =
| sink rate ms =
| sink rate ftmin =
| sink rate note =
| lift to drag =
| wing loading kg/m2 = 40.04
| wing loading lb/sqft =
| wing loading note =
| power/mass =
| thrust/weight =
| more performance =
| avionics =
}}
See also
;Similar aircraft
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://www.flysynthesis.com/aerei/page30/index.html}}
{{Portal bar|Italy|Companies|Aviation}}
{{Fly Synthesis aircraft}}