Velocity XL
{{Short description|American amateur-built aircraft}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox aircraft
| name=Velocity XL
| image=File:Velocity XL FG N114MV.jpg
| caption=Velocity XL with fixed-gear
| type=Homebuilt aircraft
| national_origin=
| manufacturer=Velocity, Inc.
| designer=
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| introduction=
| retired=
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| produced=
| number_built=229 (December 2011)
| developed_from=
| variants=
}}
The Velocity XL (XL: Extra Large) is an American amateur-built aircraft, produced by Velocity, Inc. It is an enlarged version of their Velocity SE canard pusher design.Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 75. Belvoir Publications. {{ISSN|0891-1851}}Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 125. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}
Design and development
The Velocity XL is {{convert|310|mm|in|abbr=on|0|order=flip}} longer and has a {{convert|510|mm|in|abbr=on|0|order=flip}} greater span than the SE. The standard XL has a cruising range of {{convert|875|nmi|km mi|0}} and a 75% power cruising speed of {{convert|185|kn|mph km/h|0}} air speed.{{cite web|author=Insite |url=http://www.velocityaircraft.com/airplane-specifications.html |title=Velocity Aircraft |publisher=Velocity Aircraft |access-date=2012-10-24}}{{cite web|author=Insite |url=http://www.velocityaircraft.com/airplane-models-txl.html |title=Velocity Aircraft |publisher=Velocity Aircraft |access-date=2012-10-24}}
The XL is available in both fixed gear (FG) and retractable gear (RG) form and can accommodate either three or four passengers plus a pilot. The five seat versions, the XL-5 and the TXL-RG-5, have a rear bench seat for three rather than the alternative separate pair of seats.{{cite web|author=Insite |url=http://www.velocityaircraft.com/airplane-models-xl5.html |title=Velocity Aircraft |publisher=Velocity Aircraft |access-date=2012-10-24}}
Engines available as kits from the manufacturer for all models are the Lycoming IO-360 of {{Convert|180|to|200|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}, Lycoming IO-540 of {{Convert|260|to|300|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}, Continental IO-550 of {{Convert|310|to|350|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} and the Franklin 6A350C1 of {{Convert|205|to|235|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url = http://store.velocityaircraft.com/Model.aspx?Modelno=116&featureno=119|title = Engine Installation Kits |access-date = 10 May 2016|author = Velocity, Inc.|author-link = Velocity, Inc.|year = 2016}} Builders may use these manufacturer kits or design their own engine installations using a variety of other engines of similar power output.
Variants
;Velocity XL-FG
:Fixed landing gear version with a gross weight of {{convert|2700|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. Forty had been completed and flown by December 2011.
;Velocity XL-FG-5
:Fixed landing gear version with a gross weight of {{convert|2900|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. Twenty-one had been completed and flown by December 2011.
;Velocity XL-RG
:Retractable landing gear version, with a gross weight of {{convert|2700|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. 150 had been completed and flown by December 2011.
;Velocity TXL-RG-5
:Retractable landing gear version, with gross weight of {{convert|2900|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. Eighteen had been completed and flown by December 2011.
:Twin engine prototype, three built, powered by two Superior IO-320-A engines.{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=91VT|title = N-Number Inquiry Results|access-date = 29 June 2016|last = Federal Aviation Administration|author-link = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 29 June 2016}}
Rocket Racers
The now-defunct Rocket Racing League utilized a highly modified Velocity XL FG airframe and an Armadillo Aerospace 2,500 pound thrust liquid oxygen (LOX) and ethanol rocket engine in both its Mark-II X-Racer and Mark-III X-Racer demonstration vehicles. The Mark-II utilized a standard fixed-gear Velocity XL airframe, modified for rocket propulsion. The Mark-III airframe was more extensively customized during manufacture, explicitly for rocket racing, with a canopy top, center seat and control stick and other enhancements, in addition to the rocket propulsion added to the Mark-II.
[http://www.rocketracingleague.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/RRL_PR_Milestones_030310_final.pdf Rocket Racing League Announces Milestone Development in X-Racer] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715195234/http://www.rocketracingleague.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/RRL_PR_Milestones_030310_final.pdf |date=2011-07-15 }}, press release, 2010-03-10, accessed 2010-05-03.
Specifications (XL-RG)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2013/14{{cite book |title= Jane's All the World's Aircraft : development & production : 2013-14|last= Jackson |first= Paul A. |year=2013|publisher=IHS Global|isbn=978-0-7106-3040-7 |pages=968–9}}
|prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=One
|capacity=Three
|length m=6.10
|length note=
|span m=9.45
|span note=rear wing; forewing 13 ft 8 in (4.17 m)
|height m=2.56
|height note=
|wing area sqm=9.5
|wing area note=rear wing.
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=771
|empty weight lb=
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|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=1225
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|265|L|impgal|abbr=on|0}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Continental IO-550
|eng1 type=air-cooled flat six|eng1 hp=310
|eng1 note=
|power original=
|thrust original=
|prop blade number=3
|prop name=Catto
|prop dia m=
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|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=
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|cruise speed kmh=380
|cruise speed note=normal at 75% power
|stall speed kmh=121
|stall speed mph=
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|never exceed speed kmh=
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|range miles=1150
|range note=at 65% power
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
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|ceiling note=
|g limits=+9/-7
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- Take-off run: {{convert|1300|ft|m|abbr=on|0}}
- Landing run: {{convert|1500|ft|m|abbr=on|0}}
|avionics=
}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Velocity XL}}
- {{Official website|http://www.velocityaircraft.com}}
- [http://www.velocityxl.com Building Ferrell Velocity N44VF]
{{Velocity}}
Category:1990s United States civil utility aircraft