Reflex Lightning Bug
{{Short description|American homebuilt aircraft}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Lightning Bug | image = File:1995 Reflex Lightning Bug 2 N44MX.jpg | caption = Reflex Lightning Bug 2 at Sun-N-Fun 2007 }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Homebuilt aircraft | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Reflex Fiberglass Works | designer=Nick Jones | first flight= | introduced=1990s | retired= | status= Production completed | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=At least nine | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Reflex Lightning Bug, also called the Jones Lightning Bug, is an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Nick Jones and produced by Reflex Fiberglass Works of Walterboro, South Carolina, introduced in the mid-1990s. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 242. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}
Design and development
The Lightning Bug features a cantilever low-wing, a single-seat enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed tricycle landing gear with wheel pants, a retractable nose wheel and a single engine in tractor configuration.
The aircraft is made from a combination of stainless steel and fiberglass. Its {{convert|17.83|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|40.00|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}. The cabin width is {{convert|25|in|cm|abbr=on}}. The standard engine used is the {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} AMW 808 in-line three cylinder, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, dual ignition, aircraft engine. With that engine the aircraft can cruise at {{convert|225|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}.
The Lightning Bug has a typical empty weight of {{convert|475|lb|kg|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|800|lb|kg|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|325|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|23|u.s.gal}} the payload for the pilot and baggage is {{convert|187|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. The aircraft meets American FAR 23 aerobatic category requirements at a gross weight of {{convert|750|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.
The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off with a {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} engine is {{convert|800|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} and the landing roll is {{convert|1000|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}, due to its {{convert|62|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} stall speed.
The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied kit as 300 hours.
Operational history
In February 2014 two examples were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration, although a total of nine had been registered at one time.{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=LIGHTNING+BUG+&PageNo=1|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|accessdate = 6 February 2014|last = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 6 February 2014}}
Specifications (Lightning Bug)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=
|length m=
|length ft=17
|length in=5.5
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=17
|span in=10
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=40.00
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=475
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=800
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|23|u.s.gal}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=AMW 808
|eng1 type= in-line three cylinder, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, dual ignition, aircraft engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=100
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=wooden, fixed pitch
|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=225
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=62
|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=880
|range nmi=
|range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=20000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=1200
|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=20.0
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.homebuiltairplanes.com/forums/attachments/general-experimental-aviation-questions/12747-aircraft-specific-information-lightning-bug-n63974.jpg Photo of a Lightning Bug]
{{Reflex Fiberglass Works aircraft}}
{{aerobatics}}
Category:1990s United States sport aircraft
Category:1990s United States civil utility aircraft