Vector Aircraft Corp Vector
Aerodyne Vector
Sky King International Vector 627SR

Developed by Klaus Hill from the Hummer, the 600 is a three axis control ultralight. A monowing with upright V-tail. Tail control surfaces and spoilers are operated through a mixer stick. Construction consists of tubing with the wings and tail surfaces covered by Dacron. Power is a Zenoah in pusher configuration mounted forward of the wing. A 2.33:2 reduction unit turns a two-blade wooden Vector prop. Shock-mounted tricycle gear uses rubber cushions: The nosewheel is not steerable, and there are no brakes. Units delivered by June 1981 100+.

Seen for the first time at Sun’n’Fun at Lakeland in Florida in March 1982, the Vector 610 is a modified version of the earlier Vector 600 which itself was direct descended from the Humbug that Klaus Hill redesigned on leaving Hummer in 1978. Jointly with Gemini International Inc. the Skysports International company was founded in 1980 to sell the first production Vector 600s. This company was then absorbed by Vector Aircraft Corp, itself bought up by Aerodyne Systems Inc at the end of 1982.

Compared with its predecessor, the Vector 610 includes several modifications, principally enlarged spoilerons, semi-elliptic saumons at the wing tips, structural strengthening and, for the production models in the USA, the adoption of the Zenoah G25B 22hp engine. This replaced the two Chrysler Power-Bee engines, each developing 9 hp, which equipped the last Vector 600 machines produced. In Europe, the British-supplied Robin EC25PS of 22 hp output at 6500 rpm or the EC34PM of 32hp at 6500 rpm (with a reduction drive of 2.6/1) is fitted in preference to the Zenoah. The Vector 610, a mono-wing with upright V-tail, features no rudder pedals, with the control stick operating both spoilerons and the V-tail elevons through a mixer stick. Construction consists of tubing with the wings and tail surfaces covered by Dacron. Single-seat single-engined high-wing monoplane with unconventional three-axis control. Wing has unswept leading edge, swept forward trailing edge and tapering chord; V-tall. Pitch/yaw control by elevon; roll control by one-third-span spoilerons; control inputs through stick for pitch/yaw/roll. Wing braced from above by kingpost and cables, from below by cables; wing profile; double surface. Undercarriage has three wheels in tricycle formation with additional tailwheel; no suspension on nosewheel and rubber suspension on main wheels. No ground steering. No brakes. Aluminium-tube framework. without pod. Engine mounted at wing height driving pusher propeller. 6061T6 anodized aluminium, 3/32 inch 7x7 stainless-steel cable, AN hardware.

Prices: in the US, the Vector 610 is available in kit form requiring 30 h for completion at a price of $4890 (March '83). A supplementary kit to retrofit a steerable nosewheel costs $225, a set of three wheel-fairings is available for $185 and spring-steel landing gear for $150. Glassfibre Sealord 100A floats are available at $1195 and finally, especially noteworthy, is the SR control system kit for retrofit at $275, which transforms the Vector 600 and 610 to three-axis control with a rudder bar.

Shown for the first time at Sun’n’Fun in Lakeland, Florida in March 1983, the Vector 627 is basically a re-engined Vector 610, with certain structural modifications to the tail to increase rigidity and reduce vibration. Instead of the Zenoah (US) and Robin EC25PS (Europe) engines, the 627 uses the Rotax Type 377 motor.

The Rotax develops 10 hp more than the engine it replaces and in addition is mated to a toothed-belt drive, a combination which gives the new aircraft considerably better performance than its predecessor, with the possible exception of the EC34PM-engined machine. A torsional resonance damper is built into the reduction system.

The new aircraft comes in two forms - the standard 627 which uses the 610's control arrangements, and the 627SR which incorporates rudder pedals linked to nosewheel steering to give conventional three-axis control, push-right go-right nosewheel steering connected to yaw control. A novel feature of the 627SR is that the control linkages can be modified in a matter of seconds to bring the aircraft back to stick-only control as on the standard 627. The 627SR utilises a side mounted joy stick, rudder pedals, nose wheel steerable through rudder pedals. Control stick and rudder pedals activate ruddervators and spoilerons for independent three-axis aerodynamic control. Upright V-tail monoplane with double-surfaced wing supported by kingpost and cable bracing. engine forward of wing, prop behind, 2.03:1 reduction drive unit turns a two-bladed wooden prop. LANDING GEAR: Shock-mounted tricycle gear uses bungee cord suspension. Manufacture later transferred to Aerodyne, then Sky King International as the Sky King International Vector 627SR.

 

 Konig 3cyl. radial engine of 24 hp

Gallery

600
Gross wt: 445 lbs
Wingspan, 34 ft
Wing area, 133 sq.ft
Aspect ratio, 8.33
Overall length, 18 ft
Empty weight, 195 lbs
Usable payload (include fuel), 250 lbs
Wing loading, 3.34
L/D power-off glide ratio, 8:1
Cruise speed (85% power), 50 mph
Stall speed, 26 mph
Approach speed, 30 mph
Flair speed, 25 mph
Liftoff speed, 25 mph
Takeoff roll distance, 100 ft
Rate of climb, 425 + fpm
Fuel capacity, 3 Usgal
Range at cruise, 80 mi
Engine displacement, 14.78 cu,in
Rated hp, 22 hp
Static thrust, 143 lbs
First year built: 1980

610
Engine: Zenoah G2SB-1, 22 hp at 7000 rpm
Propeller diameter and pitch 52 x 24 inch, 1.32 x 0.60 m
Reduction ratio 2.33/1
Static thrust 170 lbs
Power per unit area 0.14 hp/sq.ft, 1.5 hp/sq.m
Fuel capacity 5. 0 US gal, 4.2 Imp gal, 18.9 litre in main tank
Length overall 18ft, 5.48 m
Height overall 8.0ft, 2.43m
Wing span 35.2ft, 10.72m
Sweepback 0 deg
Total wing area 154 sq.ft, 4.3sq.m
Wing aspect ratio 6.7/1
Nosewheel diameter overall 11.5 inch, 29cm
Main wheels dia-meter overall 11.5 inch, 29cm
Empty weight 195 lb, 88kg
Max take-off weight 445 lb, 202 kg
Payload 250 lb, 113 kg
Max wing loading 2.89 lb/sq.ft, 14.1 kg/sq.m
Max power loading 20.2 lb/hp, 9.15 kg/hp
Load factors; +5.7, -2.85 ultimate
Max level speed 50 mph, 80 kph
Never exceed speed 55 mph, 88kph
Max cruising speed 45mph, 72kph
Economic cruising speed 40mph, 64kph
Stalling speed 26 mph, 42 kph
Max climb rate at sea level 600 ft/min, 3.0 m/s
Min sink rate 216 ft/min, 1.1 m/s
Best glide ratio with power off 8/1
Take-off distance 100 ft, 30 m
Land-ing distance 200 ft, 60 m
Range at average cruising speed 125 mile, 201 km

627
Engine: Rotax 377, 32 hp at 6250 rpm
Propeller diameter and pitch 52x23ft, 1.32x0.58m
Toothed-belt reduction, ratio 2.0/1
Max static thrust 220 lb, 100kg
Power per unit area 0.21 hp/sq.ft, 2.2 hp/sq.m
Fuel capacity 5.0 US gal, 4.2 Imp gal, 18.9 litre
Length overall 18ft, 5.48 m
Height overall 8.0ft, 2.43m
Wing span 35.2ft, 10.72m
Sweepback 0 deg
Total wing area 154 sq.ft, 4.3sq.m
Wing aspect ratio 6.7/1
Nosewheel diameter overall 11.5 inch, 29cm
Main wheels dia-meter overall 11.5 inch, 29cm
Empty weight 254 lb, 115kg
Max take-off weight 500 lb, 227kg
Payload 246 lb, 112kg
Max wing loading 3.24 lb/sq.ft, 15.8kg/sq.m
Max power loading 15.6 lb/hp, 7.1kg/hp
Load factors +5.7, -2.8 design
Max level speed 55mph, 88kph
Cruising speed 48mph, 77kph
Stalling speed 27mph, 43kph
Max climb rate at sea level 800 ft/min, 4.1 m/s
Best glide ratio with power off 8/1

627SR
Engine: Rotax 377, 32 hp at 6250 rpm
Propeller diameter and pitch 52x23ft, 1.32x0.58m
Toothed-belt reduction, ratio 2.0/1
Max static thrust 220 lb, 100kg
Power per unit area 0.21 hp/sq.ft, 2.2 hp/sq.m
Fuel capacity 5.0 US gal, 4.2 Imp gal, 18.9 litre
Length overall 18ft, 5.48 m
Height overall 8.0ft, 2.43m
Wing span 35.2ft, 10.72m
Sweepback 0 deg
Total wing area 154 sq.ft, 4.3sq.m
Wing aspect ratio 6.7/1
Nosewheel diameter overall 11.5 inch, 29cm
Main wheels dia-meter overall 11.5 inch, 29cm
Empty weight 254 lb, 115kg
Max take-off weight 500 lb, 227kg
Payload 246 lb, 112kg
Max wing loading 3.24 lb/sq.ft, 15.8kg/sq.m
Max power loading 15.6 lb/hp, 7.1kg/hp
Load factors +5.7, -2.8 design
Vne: 63 mph
Max level speed 55mph, 88kph
Cruising speed 48mph, 77kph
Stalling speed 27mph, 43kph
Approach speed 40 mph
Liftoff speed 30 mph
Max climb rate at sea level 800 ft/min, 4.1 m/s
Best glide ratio with power off 8/1