Take Off Merlin
{{Short description|German ultralight trike}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Merlin | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Ultralight trike | national origin=Germany | manufacturer=Take Off GmbH | designer= | first flight= | introduced=1994 | retired= | status=In production (2018) | primary user= | more users= | produced= 1994-present | number built= | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Take Off Merlin is a German ultralight trike, designed and produced by Take Off GmbH of Hamm. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 223. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
Design and development
The Merlin was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, including the category's maximum gross weight of {{convert|450|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The aircraft features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit with a cockpit fairing, tricycle landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in pusher configuration.
The aircraft is made from welded stainless steel tubing, with its double surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its {{convert|10|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplants are various BMW motorcycle engines that vary by model.
A number of different wings can be fitted to the basic carriage, including the Drachen Studio Avent and Air Creation iXess .
Variants
;Merlin 100
:Initial version introduced in 1994{{cite web|url = http://www.takeoff-ul.de/trikes.htm|title = Trikes|accessdate = 6 September 2013|last = Take Off GmbH|year = 2006}}
;Merlin 1100
:Model introduced in 1998 and powered by a four-stroke, {{convert|90|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} BMW 1100 RS engine. The 1100 has an empty weight of {{convert|195|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|400|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|205|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|60|L}} the payload is {{convert|162|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.
;Merlin 1200
:Model introduced in 2006 and powered by a four-stroke, {{convert|95|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} BMW 1200 GS engine. The 1200 has an empty weight of {{convert|230|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|450|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|220|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|60|L}} the payload is {{convert|177|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.
Specifications (Merlin 1200)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=met
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=one passenger
|length m=
|length ft=
|length in=
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|span m=10.0
|span ft=
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|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
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|wing area sqm=15.2
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=230
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|60|L}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=BMW 1200 GS
|eng1 type=four stroke motorcycle engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=95
|prop blade number=3
|prop name=composite
|prop dia m=
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|max speed kmh=140
|max speed mph=
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|cruise speed kmh=120
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|stall speed kmh=55
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|ceiling m=
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|climb rate ms=5
|climb rate ftmin=
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|wing loading kg/m2=29.6
|wing loading lb/sqft=
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}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.takeoff-ul.de/}}
{{Take Off aircraft}}
Category:1990s German sport aircraft
Category:1990s German ultralight aircraft