Aviasud Sirocco / Aériane Sirocco / ACLA Sirocco NG / Midland Ultralights Sirocco 377GB

Single seat single engined high wing monoplane with conventional three axis control. Wing has swept back leading and trailing edges, and constant chord; conventional tail. Pitch control by fully flying tail; yaw control by fin mounted rudder; roll control by halfspan spoilers; control inputs through stick for pitch/roll and pedals for yaw. Wing braced from above by kingpost and cables, from below by cables; wing profile modified TK7315 McCready; double surface. Undercarriage has three wheels in tricycle formation with additional tailskid; steel spring suspension on nosewheel and glass fibre suspension on main wheels. Push right go right nosewheel steering connected to yaw control. Brake on nosewheel. Glass fibre/polyester fuselage, partially enclosed. Engine mounted below wing driving pusher propeller. Leading edge in stratified glass fibre/epoxy and tail in stratified glass fibre/polyester; fuselage spar bi-directional stratified.

Designed by Frangois Goethals and Bernard d’Otreppe who are both engineers, and laid out with the help of a computer, this Sirocco is a result of the experience acquired with the Libellule and although it is of a similar configuration it is a completely new machine, despite the confusion generated by its initial title of Libellule MkIL It is one of the very few microlights which has undergone a complete flight test programme, both static and in flight, Frangois being a specialist in fluid mechanics and Bernard d’Otreppe in the study of composite structures. Out of this programme has come what they believe is the optimum wing profile for the Sirocco, the TK 7315 from the American Paul McCready, with 14% chord thickness.

Amongst the original ideas used on the machine is a foldable wing which can be stored in a tube 19.0ft x 10 inch (5.80 x 0.25 m). The fuselage comes down to 19. 0 x 2.0 x 5.0 ft (5.80 x 0.60 x 1.50 m) which makes for easy transport on a trailer, while alternatively, the wing can be carried on a roof rack and the rest of the machine towed on its own undercarriage. Fitted with an adjustable rudder bar to allow for pilot’s height, the Sirocco also has a trimmer for the elevator. Its spoilers seem particularly efficient and it can roll from 45O one side to 45 O the other side in 4 seconds. The Sirocco, the prototype of which made its first flight on the 26 July 1982, has been on sale since January 1983. Options include an instrument panel, VHF or CB radio equipment and a ballistically deployed parachute.

Construction: Aluminium, Fibreglass, Dacron.

Francois Goethals and Bernard D’Otreppes’ company Aviasud built the Sirocco between 1983 and the early 1990.

In 1984 the kit cost $8553 to $11,302 with three engine options.

Aeriane Sirocco

It was then taken over by Aériane, then the Sirocco license was sold to the ACLA company based in the Netherlands, which produced a modernized version as the Sirocco NG.

Midland Ultralights Ltd built the Sirocco 377GB to BCAR Section S in 1984.

The Sirocket comes from a legendary ULM:
There was a major transformation of the prototype Sirocco NG by Dave Stephens and Dean Arnold to create the jet Sirocket classified in the British category of Single Seat Derugalated (SSDR).

Engine: Konig 43RD (430 cc) 27 hp.
Static thrust: 150 lbs.
Empty wt: 252 lbs.
Wing span: 33 ft 2 in.
Wing area: 167 sq.ft.
Length: 19 ft.
Fuel cap; 5 USG.
Max wt: 544 lbs.
Stall: 24 mph.
Max speed: 63 mph.
Vne: 71 mph.
Climb rate: 500 fpm @ 41 mph.
Design limit: +6.7, -3.6g.
Glide ratio: 12-1.
Wing loading: 3.26 lbs/sq.ft.
Power loading: 20.15 lbs/hp.

Engine: JPX PUL425, 26hp at 4600rpm.
Propeller diameter and pitch 39 x 18 inch, 1.00 x 0.45 m.
No reduction.
Max static thrust 150 lb, 68 kg.
Power per unit area 0.17hp/ft., 1.9hp/sq.m.
Fuel capacity 5.3 US gal, 4.4 Imp gal, 20.0 litre.
Length overall 19.0 ft, 5.80 m.
Height overall 8.9 ft, 2.70 m.
Wing span 33.2 ft, 10. 12 m.
Constant chord 4.6 ft, 1.38 m.
Dihedral 0 degs.
Sweepback 10 degs.
Tailplane span 7.2 ft, 2.20 m.
Fin height 3.7ft, 1.10m.
Total wing area 151 sq.ft, 14.1sq.m.
Total spoiler area 6.9 sq.ft, 0.64 sq.m.
Fin area 4.3 sq.ft, 0.40 sq.m.
Rudder area 4.1 sq.ft, 0.38 sq.m.
Total elevator area 15.6 sq.ft, 1.45 sq.m.
Wing aspect ratio 7.3/1.
Wheel track 5.9 ft, 1.80 m.
Wheelbase 4.7 ft, 1.40 m.
Nose¬wheel diameter overall 12 inch, 30 cm.
Main wheels diameter overall 12 inch, 30 cm.
Floats, 10.2ft, 3.10m.
Empty weight 232 lb, 105kg.
Max take off weight 461 lb, 209 kg.
Payload 229 lb, 104 kg.
Max wing loading 3.05 lb/sq.ft, 14.9 kg/sq.m.
Max power loading 17.7 lb/hp, 8.0kg/hp.
Load factors; +6.7, 3.6 ultimate.
Max level speed 71 mph, 115 kph.
Never exceed speed 75 mph, 120 kph.
Max cruising speed 65 mph, 105 kph.
Economic cruising speed 53 mph, 85 kph.
Stalling speed 24 mph, 40 kph.
Max climb rate at sea level 680 ft/min, 3.5 m/s.
Min sink rate 240 ft/min at 31 mph, 1.2 m/s at 50 kph.
Best glide ratio with power off 12/1 at 40 mph, 65 kph.
Take off distance 115 ft, 35 m.
Land¬ing distance 165 ft, 50 m.
Service ceiling 10,500 ft, 3200 m.
Range at average cruising speed 186 mile, 300 km.

Engine: Rotax 377.
Prop: 140cm.
Wingspan: 10.12m.
Length: 5.85m.
Weight: 128 kgs.
Fuel capacity: 40 Ltr.
Econ cruise speed: 35 kts.
Stall: 22 kts.

Aeriane Sirocco
Empty weight: 135 kg
Wing span: 10 m
Wing area: 14 sq.m
Fuel capacity: 40 lt
Engine: Rotax 447 ES, 35 hp
MAUW: 240 kg
Seats: 1
Max speed: 120 kph
Cruise speed: 100 kph
Minimum speed: 45 kph
Climb rate: 5 m/s
Fuel consumption: 5 lt/hr
Price (1998): 500 000 FB hc

Midland Ultralights Ltd Sirocco 377GB
Wing area: 13.99 sq.m
Span: 10.31 m
Standard mean chord: 1.357 m
Empty wt dry: 138 kg
MTOW: 238 kg
Fuel capacity: 20 lt
Pilot/baggage weight min: 120 lb / 55 kg
Pilot/baggage weight max: 200 lb / 91 kg
Vne: 86 mph
Manoeuvering speed: 53 mph
ROC: 800 fpm
Stall: 27 mph

Midland Ultralights Ltd Sirocco 377GB

Avia Stroitel AC5m Russia

Designed by Vladimir Federov, a motorised glider. The kit for this glider comes from the Penza factory via St Petersburg and Hamburg. First flown in December 1999.
The name “Russia” applies only in the UK and the USA; officially it is the AC5m.
The company behind the US entrant at the World Class Design Competition in Oerlinghausen in 1993 was so impressed by the simplicity and construction of the prototype Russian entry that they purchased it and offered to aid the Group Mechta to get established in the USA. Mechta Sailplanes LLC took over the distribution in 1994 and aggressively marketed the glider to the extent that a second assembly plant was established at Penza to supplement the Moscow unit. This raised the annual production to 48. Russia Sailplanes Inc of Bozeman. Montana was set up in 1997 to take the Russia to the next level in the USA. This relatively small glider, with a wingspan of only 12.6m, is powered by a 28 hp, carburetted, 313cc, single-cylinder, two-stroke, retractable Compact Radial MZ35 engine. Motori Zanzottera in Italy originally designed the engine, with manufactur¬ing rights acquired by Compact Radial Engines of Canada.

Engine: Compact Radial MZ35, 313cc, single-cylinder, two-stroke, retractable, 28 hp.
Wing span: 12.6m.

Aviamilano A-2 Standard

The Aviamilano A-2 is a high performance Standard Class single-seater of 15m (49 ft 2.5 in) span, and this Italian design went back into production in 1966 after first flying in prototype form a few years earlier.

The mid-set wing has rectangular inner panels and tapered outer panels which can be replaced individually if damaged; the central torsion box and spar structure is all-metal. There are trailing edge air brakes on the inner wings.
The fuselage is of all-wood construction, with the forward part covered in glassfibre and the rear part with plywood.

The pilot’s seat is under a long flush transparent canopy, and the landing gear consists of a rubber-mounted skid and retractable monowheel. The cantilever T-type tail unit has all-moving horizontal surfaces with an anti-servo tab.

A-2 Standard
Span: 49 ft 2.5 in
Length: 23 ft 1 in
Wing area: 127.6 sq.ft
Aspect ratio: 19
Emptyweight: 419 lb
Max take-off weight: 683 lb
Max speed: 161 mph (in smooth air)
Min sinking speed: 2.03 ft/sec at 41mph
Best glide ratio: 34:1 at 54 mph

Avia Lec Vagabond

Spanish design from Barcelona. Ceconite covering over steel tube structure.

Engine: Thunderbolt, 70 hp.
Speed max: 100 mph.
Cruise: 85 mph.
Stall: 35 mph.
ROC: 1200 fpm.
Take-off dist: 300 ft.
Landing dist: 300 ft.
Fuel cap: 14 USG.
Weight empty: 500 lbs.
Gross: 1100 lbs.
Height: 6 ft.
Length: 20 ft.
Wing span: 32 ft.
Wing area: 128 sq.ft.
Seats: 2.
Landing gear: tail wheel.

Aviakit Hermes

The composite two seat Hermes can take a Rotax 582 or Jabiru engine.

Engine: Rotax 912, 80 hp
Wing span: 10 m
Wing area: 15.7 sq.m
MAUW: 450 kg
Empty weight: 255 kg
Fuel capacity: 60 lt
Max speed: 180 kph
Cruise speed: 145 kph
Minimum speed: 60 kph
Climb rate: 6 m/s
Seats: 2
Price (1998): 245 000 Fttc
Plan price (1998): 2850 Fttc
Kit price (1998): 99 600 Fttc