Striplin Lone Ranger
| Lone Ranger | |
|---|---|
| Role | Ultralight aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Designer | Ken Striplin |
| Status | Production completed |
| Developed from | Striplin FLAC |
The Striplin Lone Ranger is a family of American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Ken Striplin. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1][2]
Design and development
[edit]The aircraft was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 245 lb (111 kg). It features a high-wing, a single-seat, open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.[1]
The Lone Ranger was designed to overcome pitch stability problems found in the earlier Striplin FLAC tailless aircraft. Stability was increased with the addition of a conventional tail unit, including conventional elevators and a rudder for control. Because they were no longer needed the FLAC's wing tip rudders were deleted. The landing gear is of tricycle configuration and features a steerable nosewheel. The engine is mounted above the wing, with the propeller above and in front of the windshield. The design spawned a family of variants featuring one and two seats, as well as strut-braced and cantilever wings.[1]
Variants
[edit]- Striplin Lone Ranger
- Initial version for US production. Early versions have dual wing struts, while later models have just one strut. Engines used include the Zenoah G-25B of 20 hp (15 kW) and the Yamaha KT-100S of 15 hp (11 kW).[1]
- Aero and Engineering Services Lone Ranger
- Cantilever wing version produced by Aero and Engineering Services of the United Kingdom. The wing was redesigned and has a span of 34 ft (10.4 m). The engine used is the Zenoah G-25B of 20 hp (15 kW). Empty weight 210 lb (95 kg), gross weight 420 lb (191 kg), glide ratio of 17:1.[2]
- Silver Cloud
- Improved version with a cantilever wing and full-span flaperons. Engines used include the Cuyuna 215R of 20 hp (15 kW).[1]
- Sky Ranger
- Two seat version of the Lone Ranger.[1]
- Silver Cloud II
- Two seat version of the Silver Cloud.[1]
Specifications (Silver Cloud)
[edit]Data from Cliche[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Wingspan: 32 ft (9.8 m)
- Wing area: 120 sq ft (11 m2)
- Empty weight: 245 lb (111 kg)
- Gross weight: 500 lb (227 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Cuyuna 215R single-cylinder, fan-cooled, two-stroke, single ignition, aircraft engine with 2.1:1 reduction gearing, 20 hp (15 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 63 mph (101 km/h, 55 kn)
- Stall speed: 25 mph (40 km/h, 22 kn)
- g limits: +6/-4
- Rate of climb: 600 ft/min (3.0 m/s)
- Wing loading: 4.17 lb/sq ft (20.4 kg/m2)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page E-22. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
- ^ a b Virtual Ultralight Museum (n.d.). "Lone Ranger". Archived from the original on February 7, 2010. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
