Specter Aircraft Specter II
{{Short description|American homebuilt aircraft}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name= Specter II | image=File:Specter Aircraft Specter II Prototype.jpg | caption=The prototype Specter Aircraft Specter II }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Homebuilt aircraft | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Specter Aircraft | designer= | first flight= | introduced=1997 | retired= | status=Production completed | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=One | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Specter Aircraft Specter II was an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed and produced by Specter Aircraft of Bancroft, Idaho, introduced in 1997. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 359. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}
Design and development
The Specter II featured a canard configuration, a cantilever high-wing, a two-seats-in-tandem enclosed cockpit, with the pilot under a bubble canopy and the passenger supplied only with side windows. The aircraft had fixed tricycle landing gear with a retractable nosewheel and a single engine in pusher configuration. The design was stall-resistant.
The aircraft was made from composite materials. Its {{convert|34.0|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing, mounted wing-tip rudders and had a wing area of {{convert|147.0|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}. The cabin width was {{convert|22|in|cm|abbr=on}}. The design power range was {{convert|90|to|125|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} and the standard engine used was the {{convert|118|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Subaru EA82 automotive-conversion powerplant.
The aircraft had a typical empty weight of {{convert|1000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|1600|lb|kg|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|600|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|23|u.s.gal}} the payload for the pilot, passenger and baggage was {{convert|462|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.
The fast-build kit was to include all the major structural parts bonded in place. The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied kit to be 850 hours.
Operational history
By 1998 the company reported that one example had been completed and was flying.
In April 2015 one example was registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration, although its registration had expired in 2013.{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=909SP|title = N-Number Inquiry Results - N909SP |accessdate = 29 April 2015|last = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 29 April 2015}} It is unlikely any examples exist today.
Specifications (Specter II)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=one passenger
|length m=
|length ft=16
|length in=6
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=34
|span in=0
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=147.0
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=7.9:1
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=1000
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=1600
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|23|u.s.gal}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Subaru EA82
|eng1 type=four cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke automotive conversion engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=118
|prop blade number=3
|prop name=wooden, fixed pitch
|prop dia m=
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|prop dia in=
|prop note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=140
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=54
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
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|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
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|climb rate note=
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|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=10.9
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}}