SkyDancer SD-260
{{Short description|American homebuilt aircraft}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=SD-260 | image=SkyDancer SD-260 Prototype.jpg | caption=The SD-260 prototype under construction showing the structure }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Homebuilt aircraft | national origin=United States | manufacturer=SkyDancer Aviation | designer= | first flight= | introduced= | retired= | status=Production completed | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=At least two | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The SkyDancer SD-260 was an American aerobatic homebuilt biplane that was designed and produced by SkyDancer Aviation of Louisville, Kentucky, introduced in the mid-1990s. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit.Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 252. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}
Design and development
The SD-260 featured a strut-braced biplane layout, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit, with an optional bubble canopy, fixed conventional landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in tractor configuration.
The aircraft fuselage was made from welded 4130 steel tubing. Its {{convert|22.00|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span had a wooden structure with four ailerons, a wing area of {{convert|135.0|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} and was covered in doped aircraft fabric. The wing was supported by interplane struts, cabane struts and flying wires. The acceptable power range was {{convert|200|to|400|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} and the standard engine used was the {{convert|260|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Lycoming IO-540 powerplant.
The SD-260 had a typical empty weight of {{convert|1250|lb|kg|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|1850|lb|kg|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|600|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|29|u.s.gal}} the payload for the pilot, passenger and baggage was {{convert|426|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.
The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off with a {{convert|260|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} engine was {{convert|600|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} and the landing roll was {{convert|800|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}.
The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied kit as 1200 hours.
Operational history
In March 2014 no examples were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration, although a total of two had been registered at one time. It is unlikely any remain in existence.{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=SKYDANCER+SD+260&PageNo=1|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|accessdate = 4 March 2014|last = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 4 March 2014}}
Variants
;SD-200 Basic
:Proposed {{convert|200|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} model, not built
;SD-200C Classic
:Proposed {{convert|200|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} model, not built
;SD-260
:Base {{convert|260|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} model, two built
;SD-300S
:Proposed {{convert|300|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} single-seat model for advanced aerobatic maneuvers, not built
Specifications (SD-260)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=one passenger
|length m=
|length ft=21
|length in=0
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=22
|span in=0
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=135.0
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=1250
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=1850
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|29|u.s.gal}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Lycoming IO-540
|eng1 type=six cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=260
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=metal constant speed propeller
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=185
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=160
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=56
|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=320
|range nmi=
|range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=18000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=2200
|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=13.7
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}