Levi RL3 Monsoon
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=RL3 Monsoon | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Homebuilt aircraft | national origin=India | manufacturer= | designer=Renato Levi | first flight= | introduced=1958 | retired= | status= | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= | program cost= | unit cost= | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Levi RL3 Monsoon is an Indian homebuilt aircraft that was developed in the late 1950s. It was also marketed as the AFCO Shipyard company RL.3 Monsoon and Western Aircraft Supplies Monsoon.{{cite journal|journal=Asian and Indian Skyways |volume=13|year=1958|page=53}}
Design and development
The RL3 Monsoon is a side-by-side configuration, two seat, low wing aircraft of wood and fabric construction, equipped with conventional landing gear. It was designed and tested in India by "Sonny" Renato Levi, an Italian designer who had joined the Royal Air Force in England, studied aircraft design, and become a boat designer in Italy.{{cite web|title=Sonny Levi|url=http://www.leviboats.com/levidesigns/story.php|accessdate=2 September 2013}} Able to accommodate engines from {{convert|85|to|125|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}, the design was later marketed as a kit in Canada by Western Aircraft Supplies.{{cite web|title=Levi RL3 Monsoon|url=http://www.planeandpilotmag.com/aircraft/international-aircraft-directory/homebuiltkitbuilt-aircraft/levi-rl3-monsoon.html|accessdate=2 September 2013}}{{cite journal|journal=Air Trails|date=Winter 1971|page=78}}
Specifications (RL3 Monsoon)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=met
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=one passenger
|length m=
|length ft=20
|length in=3
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=25
|span in=10
|span note=
|height m=1.6
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=111
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=870
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=1500
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|110|L}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Continental C-85-8F
|eng1 type=horizontally-opposed air-cooled piston engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=85
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop dia note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=130
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=115
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=45
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=45
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=600
|range nmi=
|range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=800
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
- Take-off run: {{convert|500|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=flip}}
- Landing roll: {{convert|700|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=flip}}
|avionics=
}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.planeandpilotmag.com/images/stories/IAD/2009/may/homebuilt/levi-monsoon.jpg Photo of the Levi RL3 Monsoon]