Sunward SA 60L Aurora
| SA 60L Aurora | |
|---|---|
| |
| Aurora prototype | |
| Role | Light-sport aircraft |
| National origin | China |
| Manufacturer | Sunward Aircraft |
| Status | Under development (2011) |
The Sunward SA 60L Aurora is a Chinese light-sport aircraft, designed and produced by Sunward Aircraft, a division of Hunan Science and Technologies Co Ltd, an industrial machine manufacturer located in the Lu Gu High Technology Development Zone. The aircraft is intended to be supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1][2]
Design and development
[edit]The Aurora was designed to comply with the US light-sport aircraft rules. It features a cantilever low-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration. The aircraft's 8.6 m (28.2 ft) span wing has a rectangular planform and employs flaps. The standard engine available is the Austrian-made 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS four-stroke powerplant.[1][2]
The Civil Aviation Administration of China granted the design a type design approval in mid-2013.[2]
Bayerl et al. note that the Aurora closely resembles the Fly Synthesis Texan, but that the manufacturer claims the Aurora is an original design.[1]
The aircraft can be equipped for banner-towing, aerial photography and has an airshow smoke generation system available.[2]
In July 2014 the company announced an improved version, the SA 60V, with an upgraded engines installation using Austrian, rather than Chinese components and an IFR capable instrument panel.[3]
The design was added to the Federal Aviation Administration's list of approved special light-sport aircraft on 20 August 2019.[4][5]
Operational history
[edit]Reviewer Marino Boric described the design in a 2015 review as "stylish" and "elegant".[2]
Variants
[edit]- SA 60L
- Original model[2]
- SA 60V
- Upgraded model with engine installation improvements and IFR instrumentation[3]
Specifications (SA 60L Aurora)
[edit]Data from Bayerl, Tacke and manufacturer[1][2][6]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Length: 6.9 m (22 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan: 8.6 m (28 ft 3 in)
- Height: 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 11.8 m2 (127 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 340 kg (750 lb)
- Gross weight: 600 kg (1,323 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 120 litres (26 imp gal; 32 US gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912ULS four cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 75 kW (101 hp)
Performance
- Cruise speed: 220 km/h (140 mph, 120 kn)
- Stall speed: 73 km/h (45 mph, 39 kn)
- Never exceed speed: 270 km/h (170 mph, 150 kn)
- Range: 1,200 km (750 mi, 650 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 5.5 m/s (1,080 ft/min)
- Wing loading: 50.8 kg/m2 (10.4 lb/sq ft)
Avionics
- Garmin Aero500
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 78. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
- ^ a b c d e f g Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 82. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
- ^ a b China Aviation News (31 July 2014). "Zhuzhou A Ruo La SA60 launched upgrade type". www.cannews.com.cn. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
- ^ Federal Aviation Administration (16 June 2022). "SLSA Make/Model Directory". Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ "FAA officially included Sunward SA60L aircraft in the SLSA brand model catalog". 22 August 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ Sunward Aircraft (2015). "Product parameters". en.sunwardtech.com. Retrieved 8 April 2017.