Performance Aircraft Formula GT
{{Short description|American homebuilt airplane}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name= Formula GT | image=Midwest Aerosport Formula GT N260GT.jpg | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Homebuilt aircraft | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Performance Aircraft | designer= Jeff Ackland | first flight= | introduced=1990s | retired= | status=Production completed | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=At least one | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Performance Aircraft Formula GT is an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Performance Aircraft of Olathe, Kansas, introduced in the 1990s. Developed from the Performance Aircraft Legend, work was delayed while the company concentrated on the Turbine Legend. In 2002 the president of Performance Aircraft, Jeff Ackland, sold the company, which became Legend Aircraft Inc in Louisiana, and, with Mark Borrow, started Midwest Aerosport Inc, using the Performance Aircraft facilities in Kansas to develop the Formula GT.{{cite journal |last1=Cox |first1=Jack |title=Formula GT: Air touring in grand style |journal=Sport Aviation |date=May 2003 |pages=26-34 |publisher=EAA}}
The aircraft was to be supplied as a kit for amateur construction.Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 355. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}
Design and development
The Formula GT features a cantilever low-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed tricycle landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in tractor configuration.
The aircraft is made from composite materials. Its {{convert|28.5|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing, mounts slotted electric flaps and has a wing area of {{convert|100|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}. The cabin width is {{convert|47|in|cm|abbr=on}}. The design includes dual side sticks and a large baggage compartment with its own external door. The acceptable power range is {{convert|250|to|350|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} and the standard engine specified is a {{convert|300|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} liquid-cooled V-8 automotive conversion powerplant.
The aircraft has a typical empty weight of {{convert|1400|lb|kg|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|2300|lb|kg|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|900|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|110|u.s.gal}} the payload for the pilot, passenger and baggage is {{convert|240|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.
The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off with a {{convert|300|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} engine is {{convert|800|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} and the landing roll is {{convert|600|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}.
The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied kit as 1500 hours.
Operational history
The prototype, registered N260GT and powered by a Lycoming IO-540 of {{conv|260|hp|kW}}, was introduced at EAA Airventure Oshkosh in July 2002. The registration was cancelled in 2021 after the aircraft had been exported to South Africa{{cite web |title=FAA Registry N-Number Inquiry |url=https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/NNumberResult?NNumberTxt=260GT |website=United States Department of Transportation |access-date=22 December 2024}} where it was registered ZU-FGT.{{cite web |title=ZU-FGT |url=https://www.airhistory.net/photo/501977/ZU-FGT |website=AirHistory.net |access-date=24 October 2024}} There is no evidence of any further aircraft being completed.
Specifications (Formula GT)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=one passenger
|length m=
|length ft=
|length in=
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=28
|span in=6
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=100
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=8.1:1
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=1400
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=2300
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Liquid-cooled V-8 automotive conversion
|eng1 type=
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=300
|prop blade number=
|prop name=
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=250
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=230
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=61
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=flaps down
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=1500
|range nmi=
|range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=23000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=2000
|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=23.0
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/000805204.html Photo of a Formula GT]
{{Performance Aircraft}}
Category:1990s United States sport aircraft
Category:1990s United States ultralight aircraft
Category:1990s United States civil utility aircraft