Privateer Industries Privateer
{{Short description|American amphibious amateur-built aircraft}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2018}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name= Privateer | image=File:Privateer Industries Privateer prototype.jpg | caption=Privateer prototype }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Amateur-built aircraft | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Privateer Industries | designer=John Meekins and Bill Husa | first flight=6 August 2018 | introduced= | retired= | status=Under development (2018) | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=one prototype (August 2018) | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Privateer Industries Privateer is an American amphibious amateur-built aircraft that was designed by John Meekins and Bill Husa and is under development by Privateer Industries of Florida. It was first flown on 6 August 2018. The aircraft is intended to be supplied as a kit for amateur construction and later type certified and sold as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.{{cite web|url =https://www.avweb.com/recent-updates/business-military/privateer-amphibian-makes-first-flight/ |title = Privateer Amphibian Makes First Flight|access-date = 21 August 2018|last = O'Connor|first = Kate |work =AVweb |date = 16 August 2018|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20200517225610/https://www.avweb.com/recent-updates/business-military/privateer-amphibian-makes-first-flight/|archivedate = 17 May 2020}}{{cite news |url= https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2014/january/08/privateer-amphibian |title= New amphibian born of frustration |date= January 8, 2014 |author= Jim Moore |work= AOPA}}
Development
The design was conceived by Meekins, who wanted an amphibious aircraft but discovered that all existing designs had safety and performance issues, falling short of his personal requirements. Consequently, he took it upon himself to design his own aircraft. Meekins enlisted assistance from Bill Husa of Orion Technologies in Scottsdale, Arizona and made him chief engineer to work on the design and build the prototype, although Husa died in 2012, before the prototype was completed. Meekins had Embry Riddle Aeronautical University review the design and they reported favorably on it. Meekins established Privateer Industries to manufacture the design and remains chairman & CEO of the company. The development of the aircraft to first flight took over ten years.{{cite web|url =http://privateerindustries.com/aboutus.php|title = About Us|access-date = 21 August 2018|author=Privateer Industries |work = privateerindustries.com}}
Design
The Privateer features a cantilever low-wing, a seven-seat enclosed cabin accessed by doors, retractable tricycle landing gear, as well as fixed floats for water operation, a twin boom tail mounted on the floats, and a single engine in pusher configuration.
The aircraft is made from carbon fiber composites. Its {{convert|42.9|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing is mounted low on the fuselage, which also attaches the integral fixed floats. The aft end of the floats acts as twin tail booms for the twin tail fins, with a single tailplane and elevator mounted high above the pusher propeller. The standard engine used is the Walter M601 turboprop, which produces {{convert|724|shp|kW|0|abbr=on}} for take-off and {{convert|657|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} continuous. The propeller employs a shroud to increase thrust and reduce noise.{{cite web|url =http://privateerindustries.com/specifications.php|title = Performance specifications|access-date = 21 August 2018|author=Privateer Industries |work = privateerindustries.com}}{{cite web|url =http://privateerindustries.com/|title = The Privateer|access-date = 21 August 2018|author=Privateer Industries |work = privateerindustries.com}}
Operational history
By August 2018, one example, the prototype, had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=327JM|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|accessdate = 21 August 2018|author = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 21 August 2018}}
Specifications (Privateer prototype)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=kts
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=5-6 passengers
|length m=
|length ft=43.0
|length in=
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=42.9
|span in=
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=12.3
|height in=
|height note=on wheels
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=282
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=3600
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=5600
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Walter M601
|eng1 type=turboprop aircraft engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=724
|prop blade number=3
|prop name=constant speed, with shroud
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=215
|cruise speed note=at 15,000 ft
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=
|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=1000
|range nmi=
|range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=25000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=2100
|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=19.8
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://privateerindustries.com/}}
Category:2010s United States sport aircraft
Category:2010s United States civil utility aircraft
Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft