The World Aircraft Spirit is a Colombian/American amateur-built aircraft, designed by Max Tedesco and produced by World Aircraft Company. The aircraft was publicly introduced at AirVenture in 2011 and production was expected to commence in 2014. It is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly aircraft.

The Spirit features a strut-braced high-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit that is 48 in (122 cm) wide, fixed tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.

The aircraft is made from aluminum sheet. Its 32.9 ft (10.0 m) span wing has an area of 132 sq ft (12.3 m2) and mounts flaps. The wing is supported by “V” struts and jury struts. The aircraft’s recommended engine power range is 100 to 130 hp (75 to 97 kW) and standard engines used include the 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS, 100 hp (75 kW) Continental O-200 and the 100 hp (75 kW) Lycoming IO-233 four-stroke powerplants.

The aircraft has a design maximum gross weight of 1,653 lb (750 kg), but is restricted to 1,320 lb (599 kg) if flown in the US light-sport aircraft category.

The Spirit airframe is constructed in Colombia and then shipped to World Aircraft’s facility at Henry County Airport in Paris, Tennessee for final assembly and paint. Kits shipped are fully assembled and then disassembled for customer delivery and may be shipped painted as well. Construction time from the supplied kit is estimated as 110 hours.

By December 2011 55 examples had been completed and flown. As of October 2012, the design appears on the Federal Aviation Administration’s list of approved special light-sport aircraft.

The price in 2014 was US$129,500 (assembled, Spirit Grand Edition model). World Aircraft Company announced Vision kits were to start shipping in the first quarter of 2015. The regular price was to be US$26,995.00, but with an introductory price for the first twelve kits of US$24,700.00.

Variants:
World Aircraft Vision

Spirit
Engine: 1 × Rotax 912ULS, 100 hp (75 kW)
Propeller: 3-bladed composite
Length: 22 ft 3 in (6.78 m)
Wingspan: 32 ft 10 in (10.01 m)
Wing area: 132 sq ft (12.3 m2)
Empty weight: 728 lb (330 kg)
Gross weight: 1,320 lb (599 kg) light-sport aircraft version, 1,653 lb (750 kg) other versions
Fuel capacity: 24 U.S. gallons (91 L; 20 imp gal)
Cruise speed: 115 mph (100 kn; 185 km/h)
Stall speed: 35 mph (30 kn; 56 km/h) flaps down
Never exceed speed: 143 mph (124 kn; 230 km/h)
Range: 600 mi (521 nmi; 966 km)
Endurance: 4.5 hr
Maximum glide ratio: 10.5:1
Rate of climb: 950 ft/min (4.8 m/s)
Service ceiling: 14,000 ft
Wing loading: 10.0 lb/sq ft (49 kg/m2)
Takeoff dist: 175 ft
Landing dist: 260 ft
Load factor: +6 / -3G
Crew: one
Capacity: one passenger
Cabin width: 48.3 in
Glide ratio: 10.5:1