Freedom Lite SS-11 Skywatch
{{Short description|Canadian ultralight aircraft}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=SS-11 Skywatch | image=Skywatch SS11 C-IGHL 06.JPG | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Ultralight aircraft | national origin=Canada | manufacturer=Freedom Lite | designer= | first flight= | introduced=1996 | retired= | status=Production completed | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=15 (2001) | developed from= Spectrum Beaver RX650 | variants with their own articles= }} |
File:Skywatch SS11 on skis.JPG
File:Skywatch SS11 C-IGHL 01.JPG
File:Skywatch SS11 C-IGHL 03.JPG
File:Skywatch SS11 C-IGHL 07.JPG engine and radiator mounting]]
File:Skywatch SS11 C-IGHL 02.JPG
The Freedom Lite SS-11 Skywatch (also called the Skywatch SS11) is a Canadian ultralight aircraft that was produced by Freedom Lite of Walton, Ontario and later by Legend Lite of New Hamburg, Ontario, introduced in 1996. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft, or as a kit for amateur construction.Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 166. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page B-103. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}
In Canada the SS-11 is a Transport Canada-accepted Advanced Ultra-Light Aeroplane{{cite web|url = http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/standards/general-ccarcs-advancedullist-2036.htm|title = Listing of Models Eligible to be Registered as Advanced Ultra-Light Aeroplanes (AULA)|accessdate = 26 December 2013|last = Transport Canada|date = 1 November 2013}}
Design and development
Developed from the Spectrum Beaver RX650, the SS-11 Skywatch features a strut-braced high-wing, a two-seats-in-tandem enclosed cockpit accessed through upwards opening doors supported by folding struts, fixed tricycle landing gear with wheel pants, a small auxiliary tail wheel and a single engine in pusher configuration.
In improving the RX650 the company made 186 design changes to produce the SS-11. The most obvious change was the move from Dacron envelopes for the wings to doped aircraft fabric covering.
The aircraft is made from 4130 steel and aluminum tubing, plus fibreglass, with its flying surfaces covered with doped aircraft fabric. The cockpit cage is all 4130 steel, while the tail boom tube is aluminum. Its {{convert|33.00|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing lacks flaps and has a wing area of {{convert|155.0|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}. The wing is built with an aluminum structure, with an I-beam spar and stamped ribs. The SS-11 has folding wings and a folding tail as well, to allow ground transport or storage. Folding the wings can be accomplished by one person in a few minutes, with the struts supporting the wing.
The nose wheel is steerable, dual controls were factory standard, while the vertically-hinged cockpit doors were an option. With no occupants the aircraft sits on its tail.
The SS-11's acceptable installed engine power range is {{convert|50|to|75|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} and the standard engines used are the {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 503 and the {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 582 twin cylinder, two-stroke powerplants.
The SS-11 Skywatch has a typical empty weight of {{convert|420|lb|kg|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|950|lb|kg|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|530|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|13|u.s.gal}} the payload for the pilot, passenger and baggage is {{convert|452|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.
The aircraft was manufactured using computer numeric-controlled matched centres. The manufacturer estimated that the supplied kit could be completed in about 250 hours of work.
Operational history
In January 2017 there were six SS-11s registered with Transport Canada, but none registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.{{cite web|url=http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/CCARCS-RIACC/RchSimpRes.aspx?cn=%7c%7c&mn=%7cSS11%7c&sn=%7c%7c&on=%7c%7c&m=%7c%7casp |title=Canadian Civil Aircraft Register |accessdate=5 January 2017 |last=Transport Canada |date=5 January 2017}}{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=SS-11&PageNo=1|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|accessdate = 5 January 2017|last = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 5 January 2017}}
Specifications (SS-11 Skywatch)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=one passenger
|length m=
|length ft=21
|length in=6
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=33
|span in=0
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=155.0
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=420
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=950
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|9|u.s.gal}} standard or {{convert|13|u.s.gal}} optional
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Rotax 503
|eng1 type=twin cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke aircraft engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=50
|prop blade number=3
|prop name=composite
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=90
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=80
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=29
|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=405
|range nmi=
|range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=13000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=1100
|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=6.1
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
References
{{Commons category|Skywatch SS11}}
{{reflist}}
{{Uncertified aircraft developed in Canada}}
Category:1990s Canadian sport aircraft
Category:1990s Canadian ultralight aircraft