North Wing Apache
{{Short description|American ultralight airplane}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Apache | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Ultralight trike | national origin=United States | manufacturer=North Wing Design | designer= | first flight= | introduced= | retired= | status=Production completed | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=72 (February 2005) | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The North Wing Apache is an American two-seat ultralight trike designed and produced by North Wing Design of East Wenatchee, Washington. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page C-15. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}Downey, Julia: 2005 Trikes 'Chutes and Rotorcraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 22, Number 2, February 2005, page 48. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 105. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
Design and development
The aircraft was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, including the category's maximum gross weight of {{convert|450|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. It features a "topless" strut-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.
The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its double-surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its {{convert|31.5|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing is supported by streamlined struts, in place of the more commonly used cables and kingpost. The Apache is controlled with a conventional weight shift "A" frame control bar. Standard features include a fiberglass cockpit fairing, wheel pants, nosewheel brakes and stowage bags. Dual control steering and throttle are optional for flight training use. The supplied engines include the Rotax 503 twin-cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled powerplant of {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} and the Rotax 582 twin-cylinder, two-stroke, liquid-cooled powerplant of {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}.
The strut-braced wing provides a number of advantages over the traditional cable braced wing, including reduced overall height for hangaring, reduced drag and improved appearance.
Variants
;Apache 582 Contour
:Model with Rotax 582 twin-cylinder, two-stroke liquid-cooled powerplant of {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}, Contour strut-braced wing, cockpit fairing, gross weight of {{convert|950|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, circa 2003-05. Price was US$$18,950 in 2005.
;Apache 582 Mustang
:Model with Rotax 582 powerplant of {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}, Mustang strut-braced wing, cockpit fairing, gross weight of {{convert|950|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, circa 2003.
;Apache ST
:Model with Rotax 582 powerplant of {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}, stripped down for off-airport operations, with no cockpit fairing, circa 2003.
Specifications (Apache 582 Contour)
{{Aircraft specs
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|empty weight lb=400
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|fuel capacity={{convert|12|u.s.gal}}
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|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Rotax 582
|eng1 type=twin cylinder, two-stroke, liquid-cooled, single-ignition aircraft engine
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|eng1 hp=64
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|max speed mph=75
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|cruise speed mph=60
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|stall speed mph=30
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|range miles=350
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References
{{reflist}}
{{North Wing Design aircraft}}
Category:1990s United States ultralight aircraft