Vickers Aircraft Wave
{{Short description|Amphibious aircraft}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Wave | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Light-sport Aircraft | national origin=New Zealand | manufacturer=Vickers Aircraft Company | designer= | first flight= | introduced= | retired= | status=In development | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= | program cost= | unit cost=Under $180,000 (est) | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Vickers Aircraft Company Wave is a two-seat amphibious aircraft, {{when|date=July 2019}} under development by the Vickers Aircraft Company of Hamilton, New Zealand. It was introduced at the Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, Florida in 2014.{{cite journal|journal=AOPA Pilot|title=What's Happening in 2015|page=32}}Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 87. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}
Design and development
The Wave is a two-seat, side-by-side configuration, high wing amphibious aircraft. The fuselage and wings are constructed from a combination of aluminum and carbon fibre composite materials. An automatic folding wing mechanism and ballistic parachute are planned to be integrated.{{cite web|title=Another LSA Amphibian Unveiled|url=http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Another-LSA-Amphibian-Unveiled220884-1.html|accessdate=1 November 2013}}
Paul Vickers, CEO of Vickers Aircraft Company LTD, has indicated that the company's approach to the development of the Wave has been intentionally non-traditional, and involves simultaneous product and manufacturing development. In April 2020, eleven years after initiation of development of the aircraft, Paul Vickers wrote that "The WAVE will be ready soon, but not before it is. It has taken the time that has been necessary to design and produce a truly incredible aircraft." The first flight of the prototype aircraft took place on March 12 2022 "{{cite web|title=What's New - Vickers Aircraft Company Ltd|url=https://www.vickersaircraft.com/whats-new/|accessdate=16 February 2023}}
The powerplant chosen for the Wave in September 2015 was the {{convert|180|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Continental Titan 340 four-stroke engine, mounted in a pusher configuration. In late 2019, Vickers announced a switch to the {{convert|141|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 915iS four-stroke turbocharged engine, in the same configuration.
The aircraft is intended for the US light-sport aircraft category.
Specifications (Wave)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Vickers Aircraft Co Ltd{{cite web|title=Specifications - Vickers Aircraft Company Ltd|url=https://www.vickersaircraft.com/specifications/|accessdate=5 June 2021}}
|prime units?=kts
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|crew=1
|capacity=2
|length m=7.5
|length ft=
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|span m=9.40
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|height m=2.29
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|wing area sqm=13.87
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|empty weight kg=421
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=useful load 650 lbs
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=1850
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|fuel capacity={{convert|60|u.s.gal}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Rotax 915iS
|eng1 type=horizontally opposed turbocharged piston aircraft engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=141
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|prop dia in=72
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|cruise speed kts=120
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|range nmi=1100
|range note=No Reserve
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|wing loading lb/sqft=12.33
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See also
{{aircontent
|see also=
|related=
|similar aircraft=
- AeroVolga Borey
- AirMax SeaMax
- Icon A5
- LISA Akoya
- MVP Model 3
- Nordic Omsider
- Progressive Aerodyne SeaRey
|lists=
}}