Kestrel KL-1
{{short description|1990s American single-engined aircraft}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
|name= KL-1 |image= File:Kestrel KL-1A N960KA.jpg |caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type |type= Single-engine utility aircraft |national origin= United States |manufacturer= Kestrel Aircraft Company |designer= |first flight= November 19, 1995 |introduced= |retired= |status= |primary user= |number built= 3 |developed from= |variants with their own articles= }} |
The Kestrel KL-1 is an American single-engined four-seat utility aircraft designed and built in the 1990s by the Kestrel Aircraft Company of Norman, Oklahoma.
Design and development
The KL-1 is a composite fuselage cantilever high-wing cabin monoplane designed to meet the requirements of the utility and normal categories of Part 23 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. It had a fixed tricycle landing gear and a conventional four-seat cabin layout. The prototype designated KL-1A and registered N960KA first flew on 19 November 1995 and was powered by a {{convert|160|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Lycoming O-320-D2G piston engine driving a two-bladed fixed pitch propeller.
A number of improved variants of the KL-1 were planned including an armed observation or forward air control version with underwing weapon pylons.
While the prototype was test flying to gain certification the programme was abandoned.
Variants
;KL-1A
:Baseline four-seat production variant with a {{convert|160|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Lycoming O-320-D2G piston engine, one built.
;KL-1B
:Proposed de-luxe four-seat variant with a {{convert|190|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Lycoming IO-360-ES piston engine, not built.
;KL-1C
:Proposed high-performance variant with a {{convert|250|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Continental TSIO-360C piston engine, 2 built.{{cite web|last1=Eckland|first1=K.O.|title=Aircraft K|url=http://aerofiles.com/_k.html|website=Aerofiles|accessdate=13 October 2017}}
;KL-1D
:Proposed six-seat utility and cargo variant with a {{convert|325|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Continental TSIO-550-B engine, and an optional floatplane conversion, not built.
;KL-1R
:Proposed retractable landing gear variant of the KL-1B with a {{convert|190|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Lycoming IO-360-ES piston engine, not built.
;K250A
:Proposed military armed observation or forward area control variant of the KL-1C with additional observation windows and underwing weapons pods, not built.
Specifications (KL-1A)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1995-1996
|prime units? = imp
|crew=1
|capacity=3
|length m=8.15
|length ft=26
|length in=9
|span m=11.20
|span ft=36
|span in=9
|height m=2.73
|height ft=8
|height in=11
|wing area sqm=16.69
|wing area sqft=179.6
|empty weight kg=624
|empty weight lb=1375
|gross weight kg=1134
|gross weight lb=2500
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Lycoming O-320-D2G four-cylinder piston engine.
|eng1 kw=119
|eng1 hp=160
|cruise speed kmh=230
|cruise speed mph=143
|stall speed kmh=87
|stall speed mph=54
|range km=1752
|range miles=1088
|ceiling m=3965
|ceiling ft=13000
|climb rate ms=3.6
|climb rate ftmin=700
}}
See also
References
=Notes=
=Bibliography=
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite book |editor=Paul Jackson |title= Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1995-1996|year=1995 |publisher=Jane's Information Group Limited|isbn= 0-7106-1262-1}}
{{refend}}
Category:1990s United States civil utility aircraft