Striplin FLAC
{{Short description|American ultralight aircraft}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=FLAC | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Ultralight aircraft | national origin=United States | manufacturer= | designer=Ken Striplin | first flight=October 1978 | introduced= | retired= | status=Production completed | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= | developed from= | variants with their own articles=Striplin Lone Ranger }} |
The Striplin FLAC (Foot Launched Air Cycle) is an American flying wing ultralight aircraft that was designed by Ken Striplin in 1977, first flying in October 1978. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page E-15 Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}{{Cite web|url = http://virtualultralightmuseum.com/f.htm#flac|title = FLAC|accessdate = 10 November 2011|last = Virtual Ultralight Museum|date = n.d.}}Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1980-81, Jane's, 1980. pp. 552-3.
Design and development
The aircraft preceded the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, but fits into the category, including FAR 103's maximum empty weight of {{convert|254|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. The aircraft has a standard empty weight of {{convert|200|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. It features a cantilever high-wing, a single-seat, partially enclosed cockpit, tricycle landing gear and twin {{convert|11.5|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Soarmaster engines powering a single propeller in pusher configuration. Twin go-cart engines have also been employed.
The aircraft is made from aluminum tubing, foam, fiberglass, with the wings finished in doped aircraft fabric covering. Its {{convert|32|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing features a laminar-flow airfoil, 50%-span elevons and wing tip rudders that can both be deployed simultaneously for use as air brakes. The aircraft has a 22:1 glide ratio. The FLAC has laminated fiberglass main landing gear legs and a nose wheel that is steerable. The aircraft was also designed to be at least nominally foot-launchable to comply with the informal US requirements for ultralights of that period that they be able to do so. Foot launching was carried out by opening a hinged door in the fuselage floor.
In flight the aircraft has been described as unstable, particularly in pitch and at least one accident was attributed to its instability.
Specifications (FLAC)
{{Aircraft specs
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|crew=one
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|span ft=32
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|wing area sqft=155
|wing area note=
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|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=200
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=434
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|5|u.s.gal}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=Soarmaster
|eng1 type=single cylinder, two-stroke
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=11.5
|prop blade number=
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|prop dia m=
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|prop dia in=
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|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=65
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=55
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=16
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=80
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
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|ceiling m=
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|glide ratio=22:1 at 36 mph (53 km/h)
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=300
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|sink rate ms=
|sink rate ftmin=105
|sink rate note=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=2.8
|wing loading note=
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{{aircontent
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://virtualultralightmuseum.com/f_files/image011.jpg Photo of a Striplin FLAC]
{{Ken Striplin aircraft}}
Category:1970s United States ultralight aircraft