Engines – Power

Slingsby T-29 Motor Tutor

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By November 1947, a powered version of the T-8 Tutor was undertaken, somewhat against his wishes, by Mr Fred Slingsby, and this, the T29 Motor Tutor, featured a new fuselage with a fixed, divided-axle type undercarriage and tailwheel married to the standard Tutor wings and tail unit. The first prototype G-AKJD was completed at Martin Hearn Ltd, Hooton Park. It first flew, as the T29A with a 25hp Scott Flying Squirrel engine, in December 1947 but this first prototype was underpowered.

Slingsby-built Type 29B Motor Tutor G-AKJD was first flown at the end of 1950. It was crashed at Dunstable Downs on June 21, 1964 and is seen here at Woburn in 1959.

The second prototype, the T29B G-AKEY which first flew in June 1948, was being built by Slingsby Sailplanes and had a 40hp Aeronca JAP two-cylinder, horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine; a single 9.5 Imp gallon fuel tank was installed. Completition was delayed to incorporate any modifications indicated by the flight tests.

Slingsby Type 29B Motor Tutor G-AKEY, a Tutor glider airframe with an undercarriage and powered by a 40 h.p. Aeronca-JAP J-99. First flown in this form in June 1948, ’EY was sold in the Bahamas in 1963.

It was intended that the Motor Tutor should be sold in kit form for assembly by Ultra-Light Aircraft Association groups but when, after protracted deliberations, the ARB at last granted the Motor Tutor a C of A it was not for training and, since this role had been the main reason for developing the type in the first place, further work on the Motor Tutor ceased and an initial order for six was cancelled.

Five or six other conversions are known:

G-AXMB
By C.W.Osborne used a Type 7 Kirby Cadet (single-seat T.31) BGA.805, probable ex-VM590. It was converted at Bedford with two 220cc Villiers motorvyvle engine mounted one on each wing strut and termed a Twin Cadet. It was converted to a Motor Cadet with a converted Triump T-100 in the nose later.

PFA.1312
T.West

PFA.1385 G-AYAN
P.J.Martin and D.R.Wilkinson converted T.31B BGA.1224 (ex-RAFGSA.223) at Twinwood Farm. Powered by a VW 1600cc as ‘Thermal Hopper’ c/n 003, it was first flown in 1971.

G-AYAN at Sywell 1970

PFA.1573 G-AZSD
R.G.Boyton, Epsom, used an un-completed Slingsby-airframe, probably c/n 561, starting in 1972 as constructor’s number RGB.01/72.

PFA.1586
G.Milton

A Motor Cadet was resident at Bickmarsh, UK, built on T.31B RAFGSA.297, BGA.1346.

c/n 537 / ex-RA883, BGA.535
About 1957 R.Swinn converted T.7 Cadet into a Motor Cadet using a JAP J-99 engine at Sutton Park.

Motor Tutor BGA.535 1957

Sling Aircraft Sling

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ZK-SLG (c/n 182)

The two-seater Sling was designed by Mike Blyth bigger than some of the comparable sport aircraft and can be certified as an LSA.

The prototype first flew on 18 November 2009. It is produced by Sling Aircraft (Pty) Ltd of Johannesburg in South Africa as a kit or a fully built up aircraft. After a full testing programme the second prototype was flown around the world from East to West in 40 days in 2009, which proved the credentials of the design. The Sling is of all metal construction with composite cowling and fairings. The design has been extended to a 4 seater aircraft which is called the Sling 4 while the 2 seater has been renamed the Sling 2.

Sling
Engine: Rotax 912, 100 hp
Wingspan: 30 ft 1 in / 9.17 m
Wing area: 127.5 sq.ft
Length: 22 ft 10 in / 6.98 m
empty weight: 806 lb / 370 kg
MAUW LSA: 1,320 lb / 598 kg
Cruise: 140 mph / 120 kt
Stall: 46 mph / 40 kt

Slepcev Storch

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The Slepcev Storch is a kit plane designed by Nestor Slepcev and is produced at the factory in Beechwood, Port MacQuarie, Australia. The Slepcev Storch is a dual control 75% scale replica of the Feisler Fi-156 Storch modified for simplicity. Initially designed in 1992 as a single seater, the Slepcev Storch is produced as a two seat tandem Ultralight STOL aircraft.

The Slepcev Storch is JAR-VLA certified, Type Certificate No.VA505 issued by the Australian CASA on 14 October 1991. It also meets Australian Noise Certification to standard 66.8dBA.

The plane was designed around a light fuselage rated at +6/-3G. Reportedly it will fly as slow as 20 mph with full flaps and 30% power. The construction is 4130 chromemoly steel tubing for the fuselage, rudder and elevator. The wings are all-aluminium and the main landing gear is made of 4130 tubing with 10 inches of travel. Standard wheels are 8.00 x 6 mains, and a Maule tailwheel. Brakes are hydraulic disc, and the fuel is contained in the wings.

The kit consists of JAR-VLA certified components and is fully welded with the fuselage and empennage primed for protection against corrosion. Also supplied are upholstered seats, the main landing gear, wheels, hydraulic disc brakes and the Maule tailwheel. The aluminium wingspars and ribs are pre-drilled and the lightening holes are flanged. All the hardware is included, as are the wingskins. Much of the control system is installed, including the stick and all of the fuselage pushrods. The Lexan windows are supplied, and all hardware. No special tools are required.

Slepcev Storch Mk.4

The interior measures 2.6 ft wide, 3.3 ft high, and 4.9 ft long. The fuel tank holds three hours and an optional 26.4 gallon belly tank can add another four hours.

The controls are aluminium pushrods, through the rudder and the elevator trim trim are controlled by cables. The brakes are toe-operated.

Avaliable ready to fly or as an advanced kit 2009 Price: A$44,000.

Slepcev Microlight Storch
Stall: 22 kt / 25 mph / 41 kmh
Cruise: 72 kt / 83 mph / 133 kmh
VNE: 80 kt / 92 mph / 148 kmh
Empty Weight: 289 kg / 637 lbs
MTOW Weight: 450 kg / 992 lbs
Climb Ratio: 800 ft/min / 4 m/s
Take-off distance (50ft obstacle): 30 ft / 9 m
Landing distance (50ft obstacle): 30 ft / 9 m

Engine: Rotax 618, 75 hp
HP range: 65-100
Height: 7.5 ft
Length: 21.33 ft
Wing span: 33.5 ft
Wing area: 160 sq.ft
Weight empty: 618 lb
Gross: 1056 lb
Fuel cap: 14 USG
Speed max: 78 mph
Cruise: 65 mph
Range: 300 sm
Stall: 16 mph
ROC: 1200 fpm
Take-off dist: 30 ft
Landing dist: 50 ft
Service ceiling: 16,500 ft
Seats: 2
Landing gear: tail wheel

Engine: Rotax 912, 80 hp
HP range: 80-120
Height: 7.5 ft
Length: 24 ft
Wing span: 33.7 ft
Wing area: 180 sq.ft
Empty weight: 650 lb
Gross weight: 1200 lb
Fuel capacity: 18 USG
Top speed: 95 mph
Cruise: 75 mph
Stall: 16 mph
Range: 250 sm
Rate of climb: 1200 fpm
Takeoff dist: 30 ft
Landing dist: 50 ft
Service ceiling: 15,000 ft
Seats: 2 tandem
Landing gear: tailwheel

Engine: Rotax 912S, 100 hp
Length: 22.3 ft
Wing span: 32.8 ft
Wing area: 172.2 sq.ft
Empty weight: 771.6 lb
Gross weight: 1212.5 lb
Fuel capacity: 19.8 Gal
Top speed: 78 kt
Cruise: 70 kt
Stall: 25 kt
Rate of climb: 700 fpm
Takeoff dist: 50-100 ft
Landing dist: 50-100 ft
Service ceiling: 15,000 ft
Seats: 2
2009 price (JAR-VLA) fly away: A$63,000
2009 price (JAR-VLA) Advanced kit: A$44,000
2009 price (JAR-VLA) kit: A$35,000

Slepcev Storch Mk.4
Engine: Rotax 912, 80 hp
Wing span: 10 m
Wing area: 16 sq.m
MAUW: 450 kg
Empty weight: 289 kg
Fuel capacity: 75 lt
Max speed: 150 kph
Cruise speed: 125 kph
Minimum speed: 27 kph
Climb rate: 6 m/s
Seats: 2
Fuel consumption: 11 lt/hr
Price (1998): 77,000 DM
Kit price (1998): 29,650 DM

Sky-World PJ-II Dreamer

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The “PJ-II “Dreamer” is two place ducted fan semi-fighter jet replica kit-build airplane. It is a semi-replica because it was never intendant to be design as exact copy of any current “Jet Fighter”.

The aircraft is made of composite constriction with all the parts made in the “molds”. Standard fiberglass and resin (Carbon fiber can be used, as customer request) is used throughout, being of aerospace quality sourced from Germany. Skins with ribs and bulkheads are utilized in a fairly traditional composite build up for sophisticated high performance experimental aircraft.

PJ-II “Dreamer” design around LS6 GM V-8 400 hp automotive (converted for aircraft use) piston engine. Because this is automotive engine, automotive premium or aviation LL100 fuel can be used the “Ducted Fan” propulsion system makes this aircraft look and fly like a jet airplane. It’s no P-factor and torque to deal with.

Certificate of Airworthiness of the Federal Air Transport Agency of the Russian Federation, number 2082164591, was received on February 9, 2016.

Demonstration flights of PJ-II at the exhibition Sun-n-Fun 2016 in Lakeland, Fl. USA, April 2016, arouse much interest. During the air show and in the following few months, the interest was confirmed by the announced intentions of more than 50 pilots, who wished to purchase the kit-build aircraft. The two-seat aircraft first flew in March 2015 and had about 40 flying hours so far. The particular aircraft was to stay in the US for the EAA AirVenture show at Oshkosh at the end of July.

The company reached an understanding, that manufacturing and developing will allow producing only 10-12 kits in 2017, with the increase in their number in the future. $3000 deposits were securing delivery dates in 2018.

PJ-II “Dreamer” Kit Contents:
Airframe:
Pre-molded Composite Airframe Components;
Canopy Frame and Glass;
Landing Gear Retract System;
Aileron, Elevator, Control Stick System;
Rudder Control System;
Flap Control System;
Elevator Electric Trim System;
Interior Closeout Panels and seats;
Fan drive:
Engine/Gearbox Mount;
Gearbox;
Fan Drive Shafts;
Fan Assemblies.

Items Not Included In The Kit:
Engine (LS6/LS7);
Hydraulic, Fuel, Electrical Systems and Avionics;
Wheels, Brakes and Tires;
Radio/ Nav and Antennas;
Interior and Exterior Lighting;
Upholstery and Finishing Materials.

GM LS6 V8

Sky-World was offering the kit from a start price of $89,950 which includes retractable landing gear, engine gearbox, fan assemblies and engine mount, but not the engine itself. A total cost of $125,000 is suggested. Build time is advertised at 2,000 to 2,500 hours.

Engine: GM LS6 V8 388 hp@5000rpm
Wing Span: 8,025 m (26’4”)
Wing Area: 10 sq. m (106,17 sq.ft.)
Wing Airfoil: LS(1) – 0413
Length: 8,435 m (27’8”)
Height: 3,015 m (9’9”)
Empty weight: 986 kg (2,169 lbs)
Maximum gross weight: 1380 kg (3,036 lbs)
Fuel Capacity: 280 lt (74 USG)
Structural limit loads: +4,4/-2,2 G
Wing Loading: 130 kg/sq.m (27 lb/sq.ft.)
Fuel Consumption: 57 lph (15 USGph)
Top Speed S/L: 350 km/h (218 mph)
Cruise Speed: 300 km/h (187 mph)
Stall Speed (no flaps): 120 km/h (75 mph)
Stall Speed (full flaps): 90 km/h (56 mph)
Rate of Climb S/L: 14 m/s (2500 fpm)
Range: 1200 km (750 mi)