Sunward SA 60L Aurora

SA 60L Aurora
Aurora prototype
Role Light-sport aircraft
National origin China
Manufacturer Sunward Aircraft
Status Under development (2011)
Unit cost
US$176,000 (2015)

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

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]

As of April 2017, the design does not appear on the Federal Aviation Administration's list of approved special light-sport aircraft.[4]

Operational history

Reviewer Marino Boric described the design in a 2015 review as "stylish" and "elegant".[2]

Variants

SA 60L
Original model[2]
SA 60V
Upgraded model with engine installation improvements and IFR instrumentation[3]

Specifications (SA 60L Aurora)

Data from Bayerl, Tacke and manufacturer[1][2][5]

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 (137 mph; 119 kn)
  • Stall speed: 73 km/h (45 mph; 39 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 270 km/h (168 mph; 146 kn)
  • Range: 1,200 km (746 mi; 648 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

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 78. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 82. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. 1 2 China Aviation News (31 July 2014). "Zhuzhou A Ruo La SA60 launched upgrade type". www.cannews.com.cn. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  4. ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (1 March 2017). "SLSA Make/Model Directory". Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  5. ↑ Sunward Aircraft (2015). "Product parameters". en.sunwardtech.com. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
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