Designed by Ed Fisher.
Engine: Rotax 277FA
Empty wt: 249 lb
Raceair Zipster
Engines – Power
Raceair Skylite
Ed Fishers “Skylite” Ultralight gained a lot of attention, winning Grand Champion Ultralight at Oshkosh in 1991. Under the name of Raceair, plans and components were developed and marketed for the Skylite. Green Sky Adventures, Inc added some Raceair items to its product line shortly thereafter.
Speed max: 60 mph. Cruise: 47 mph. Range: 90 sm. Stall: 27 mph. ROC: 400 fpm. Take-off dist: 400 ft. Landing dist: 600 ft. Service ceiling: 9,000 ft. Engine: Rotax 277, 28 hp. HP range: 28-50. Fuel cap: 5 USG. Weight empty: 240 lbs. Gross: 520 lbs. Height: 6.83 ft. Length: 17.5 ft. Wing span: 29.16 ft. Wing area: 117 sq.ft. Seats: 1. Landing gear: nose wheel.
Raceair Micro Mong
For Oshkosh 93, Ed Fisher was back with another new design, the Micro Mong. Inspired by the legendary Mong Sport, and its designer Ralph Mong, Ed had set out to replicate the timeless elegance of that Midget Biplane but to do it in such a way as to conform to FAA part 103 regulation. That was no small task! Usually, replica airplanes are smaller than what they are replicating. With the Micro Mong “Ultralight”, the opposite was true. Primarily, there was no way to get within the calculations for part 103 with less wing area than the Mong Sport. Some other “calculated” factors that allowed the racy little plane to conform were partially exposed engine, engine HP/propeller combination, and permanently deployed full span flaps (the ailerons were drooped about 3 degrees).
Ed worked diligently, after Oshkosh, and within a few months, his Raceair Company began selling plans and components for the Micro Mong. Just as with the Skylite, Green Sky added the new Raceair items to its product line. Plans were made to have the Micro Mong at Green Sky’s Sun n Fun booth in April 1994.
Green Sky Adventures, Inc. president, Gerald Olenik, was so impressed with the Micro Mong, that within three months, he and his brother formed Pyma Lake Aircraft Corp, purchased the Micro Mong design, and arranged exclusive marketing through Green Sky Adventures, Inc. Pla Corp. built the proof of plans aircraft, then built steel jigs and fixtures and organized many details for kit production. A plan to move the operation to Florida prior to establishing a dedicated production team commenced late in 1996. The following year, Green Sky Adventures, Inc., acquired the assets of Pla Corp. and the exodus to Florida began.
Green Sky management believes “biplane nostalgia” helps make the Micro Mongs popularity timeless. Though single place / open cockpit, undoubtedly limits that popularity, pilots drawn to such configurations share a passion barely comprehensible to others.
The slow process of relocation from Ohio to Florida has kept the LSA Micro Mong kit production in limbo. Plans sales have continued, and quite a few builders have completed their aircraft. Much of the promotional material and information describing details of the kit has been updated. However the Micro Mong design remains pretty much frozen. Differences between Kit and Plans versions are so few, that an original plans set is still supplied with the Micro Mong kit as the primary “Bible” for assembly.
HKS-700e 4 stroke power is perhaps the most exciting improvement to this great little plane. It’s as if the engine was designed specifically for Micro Mong application. Green Sky Adventures, Inc. has been flying, testing, and marketing this outstanding powerplant for a few years. The power, reliability, economy, and longevity of this lightweight 4 stroke add a dimension to light sport flying that does not otherwise exist. Such an improvement plus the infancy of Sport Pilot, and renewed interests in the Micro Mong should certainly be worthy of a suffix. Extra power, extra range, extra reliability and 2 times the strokes is easily 2 times the fun. Micro Mong 2XF.
Raceair Micro Mong
Engine: Rotax 377, 28 hp
Wing span: 6 m
Wing area: 10.2 sq.m
MAUW: 240 kg
Empty weight: 112 kg
Fuel capacity: 19 lt
Max speed: 105 kph
Cruise speed: 80 kph
Minimum speed: 45 kph
Climb rate: 1.5 m/s
Fuel consumption: 7 lt/hr
Seats: 1
Plan price (1998): US$125
Green Sky Micro Mong
Engine: Rotax 503, 52 hp
HP range: 30-60
Height: 6 ft
Length: 14 ft
Wing span: 19.5 ft
Wing area: 110 sq.ft
Fuel cap: 10 USG
Weight empty: 320 lb
Gross: 650 lb
Speed max: 110 mph
Cruise: 85 mph
Range: 200 sm
Stall: 35 mph
ROC: 1000 fpm
Take-off dist: 200 ft
Landing dist: 400 ft
Service ceiling: 15,000 ft
Seats: 1
Landing gear: tail wheel
Cockpit width: 21.75 in
Raceair Flitplane
Designed by Ed Fisher.
Engine: Rotax 277, 28 hp
HP range: 25-40
Height: 5 ft
Length: 15.75 ft
Wing span: 27 ft
Wing area: 145 sq.ft
Weight empty: 235 lb
Gross: 500 lb
Fuel cap: 5 USG
Speed max: 50 mph
Cruise: 40 mph
Range: 120 sm
Stall: 27 mph
ROC: 500 fpm
Take-off dist: 300 ft
Landing dist: 300 ft
Service ceiling: 8,000 ft
Seats: 1
Landing gear: tail wheel
RAAF Museum Bristol Boxkite
The brainchild of Group Captain (retd) Ron Gretton and Wing Commander (retd) Geoff Matthews, the Boxkite replica was built at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook, Australia, and will eventually be a showcase display for the public.
With Air Vice-Marshal (retd) Mark Skidmore at the controls, the Boxkite flew successfully on Wednesday 11 September 2013 at RAAF Base Williams. The aircraft flew about 1000 metres and reached a speed of 42 mph.
“It was an exhilarating and humbling experience, I am honoured and proud to follow those aviators who pioneered military aviation in this country,” said AVM Skidmore, a former F-111 and ARDU test pilot.
“I now also have the honour of being the only RAAF pilot who has flown both the fastest and slowest aircraft in the Air Force. The Bristol Boxkite has a rich history in the evolution of military aviation in Australia, it was the first official military aircraft built in this country and used to train our first military pilots.”
The Boxkite has a rich history in the evolution of military aviation in Australia and was the first official military aircraft built in Australia that was used to train Australia’s military aviators.
A Bristol Boxkite was flown in Australia for the first time on 1 March 1914, when Lieutenant Eric Harrison took one into the air at Point Cook. The airfield was then the home of the Australian Flying Corps (AFC).
Harrison’s flight is recognised as the starting point of military flying in Australia. In recognition of this historical significance, RAAF Base Point Cook will play host to the Centenary of Military Aviation in Australia event on 1 to 2 March 2014 with the Bristol Boxkite replica as a major draw card.
RAAF Experimental Aircraft Station Widgeon II
The first design was the Widgeon 1, a flying boat, followed by a much larger amphibian, the Widgeon II, powered by a 440 hp A.S. Jaguar engine. In 1927, the Widgeon II undertook a 9,000 mile flight around Australia.
Raache LR-1 / Honroth Special
The Raache LR-1 or Honroth Special of 1947 was a single-place cabin, low wing monoplane, NX/N5595N, powered by a Continental engine.
In its first Goodyear competition, when rounding the first pylon, this racer twisted its frame so badly it limped in and was immediately retired from flying.
Raab-Katzenstein RK-26 Tigerschwalbe
First product was Schwalbe two-seat training biplane with Siemens engine.
Twenty five were operated by the Swedish Flygvapnet as trainers.
Raab Krähe
The Raab Krähe (English: crow) is a West German high-wing, single-seat, pusher configuration motor glider that was designed by Fritz Raab for amateur construction. The Krähe first flew in 1957, shortly after powered flight was again permitted in the Federal Republic of Germany. The most widespread problem was that engines proved unreliable when restarted in flight after being switched off for lengthy periods. Inevitably, there was a great deal of trial and error, and the Krähe was fitted with engines from various manufacturers. The aircraft was never commercially manufactured.
The Krähe is constructed from wood, with the fuselage made from a wooden structure covered in doped aircraft fabric. The 12.0 m (39.4 ft) span wings are built with a wooden structure and covered in plywood and fabric. The wings feature spoilers and a custom Raab-designed airfoil. The tailplane is braced with four cables to the wing trailing edge. The landing gear is a fixed monowheel.
The engine is mounted in the rear of the cabin area, with the propeller in between the top and bottom tail boom tubes. Motors used are usually of an output of about 30 hp (22 kW).
Raab designed the Krähe specifically for homebuilders. About 30 examples were reported completed by 1974.
Variants:
Krähe
Initial model with monowheel landing gear and propeller in between top and bottom tail boom tubes.
Austria Krähe
Later model with tricycle landing gear and propeller rotating around the upper tail boom tube.
Krähe
Engine: 1 × Steyr , 20 kW (27 hp)
Propeller: 2-bladed wooden fixed pitch
Wingspan: 12 m (39 ft 4 in)
Wing area: 14.3 m2 (154 sq ft)
Aspect ratio: 10:1
Airfoil: Raab
Empty weight: 238 kg (525 lb)
Gross weight: 333 kg (735 lb)
Fuel capacity: 8 U.S. gallons (30 L; 6.7 imp gal)
Fuel burn: 1.2 U.S. gallons (4.5 L; 1.00 imp gal) per hour
Wing loading: 23.3 kg/m2 (4.77 lb/sq ft)
Cruise speed: 121 km/h (75 mph, 65 kn)
Endurance: 10 hours loiter
Maximum glide ratio: 18-20:1 at 77 km/h (48 mph)
Rate of sink: 1.2 m/s (240 ft/min) at 68 km/h (42 mph)
Crew: one
Krähe IV
Engine: Hirth F 10, 19 kW
Wingspan: 12.0 m
Take-off weight: 340 kg
Best glide ratio: 20 : 1 at 78 km/h
Minimum sink rate: 1 m/s at 65 km/h
Maximum rate of climb: 1.7 m/s
Quicksilver Sport 2SE
One of the most successful wide-open-airplane manufacturers is Temecula, California-based Quicksilver. Until now, Quicksilver has offered its products only as ultralights, which are restricted to one seat, or with Experimental airworthiness certificates, which means you would have to build one, trust someone else to build one properly or join a flying club to fly one. The Experimental category also makes it difficult to obtain training.
Around 2011, Escutia, a Mexican national who shares his time between his home in Guadalahara, Mexico, and Temecula, took over the operation. Escutia felt that the amateur-built category was a barrier to sales, so he embarked on a journey to bring the 2S to LSA certification. About 18 months later, he had the first light-sport airworthiness certificate for the S2SE in hand.
In 2014 Quicksilver achieved the special category light-sport aircraft (S-LSA) certification from the FAA for its Sport 2SE, the slightly modified, factory-made version of the experimental Sport 2S.
The Quicksilver Sport 2SE is a two-seat open cockpit airplane constructed of aluminum tubes and double-side sailcloth. The airframe has been tested to load factors of plus-6 and minus-3 G, though not under FAA as part of any certification program. The S2SE is powered by a 65-horsepower Rotax 582 engine and Warp Drive three-blade carbon fiber 72-inch propeller — a prop that had previously not achieved an LSA sign-off. Fuel burn is 5.6 gph at 75 percent power.and cruise around 45 mph. The S2SE was approved for production in May 2014 and the retail price was set at $39,999.
The parts for the S2SE are organized into vacuum wrapped packages, just like those of amateur-built kits, making the assembly process streamlined. The initial assembly of the S-LSA happens in a small space at the back of the factory where the fuselage parts are put together. The final assembly is completed at the French Valley Airport. Once the structure is complete, the large double-side wing covers are pulled over the wing framework like a jacket. The whole process takes about seven weeks, including the flight testing.
The Sport 2SE has tricycle gear and the pilot and passenger sit in a side-by-side arrangement. The airplane has dual throttles and dual rudder pedals, and there is an airspeed indicator and altimeter located between the two sets of pedals. Engine instruments are in a digital box on a crossbar above the seats.
The S2SE flies mostly like any other airplane. Push forward on the throttle and you get more power. Pull back on the stick and you climb or slow down. Push forward and you descend or pick up speed. The airplane moves in the direction of the rudder pedal you step on or the direction you move the stick.
The offices and main production plant are in an industrial mall in Temecula, where most of the ¬airplanes’ components are cut, shaped and welded, and the sailcloth for the wings is cut and sown by hand. The factory assembled two-seat LSA was ready to be delivered to customers through three facilities in Temecula, California, Reserve, Louisiana, and Rochester, Minnesota, most notably to a Chinese university for which the Chinese government ordered 77 units.
