Aviadesign A-16 Sport Falcon

The Aviadesign A-16 Sport Falcon is an American light-sport aircraft that was designed by Aviadesign, a certified aircraft modification company based in Camarillo, California. The A-16 was announced at Sun 'n Fun April 2006 and introduced at the LSA Expo held in Sebring, Florida in 2007. The aircraft was to be supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1][2][3][4][5]

A-16 Sport Falcon
Role Light-sport aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Aviadesign
First flight 2006
Introduction 2007
Status Production completed
Number built 2
Unit cost
US$95,000 (projected price, assembled 2015)

Jane's Information Group reports that two prototypes were completed by 2006, but it is not clear if any other examples ever flew before the company went out of business.[3]

Design and development

The aircraft was designed to comply with the US light-sport aircraft rules. It features a strut-braced high-wing, a two-seats-in-tandem enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1][2]

The aircraft is made with a welded steel tubing airframe. Its 29 ft (8.8 m) span wing employs a single strut per side. The standard engine for production examples was intended to be the 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS four-stroke powerplant. Entry to the cockpit is via an airstair door.[1][2]

The design is listed on the Federal Aviation Administration's list of accepted SLSAs, but as no longer in production.[6]

Operational history

In March 2010 reviewer Dan Johnson reported on a test flight in the prototype:

the interior is spacious and comfortable, more so than many other LSAs; handling is predictable with no bad traits I could uncover; the airplane is well equipped and expects to have a price somewhere in the $110,000 range, though this decision is still being reviewed; visibility is enormous, with the pilot sitting about 4 feet in front of the wing; even the aft seat has good room, very good visibility, and full controls — it turns out my smoothest landings were from the rear.[5]

Specifications (A-16)

Data from Bayerl[1][7]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 27 ft (8.2 m)
  • Wingspan: 28 ft 10 in (8.8 m)
  • Wing area: 130 sq ft (12 m2)
  • Empty weight: 739 lb (335 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,232 lb (559 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 80 litres (18 imp gal; 21 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912ULS four cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 101 hp (75 kW)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed Prince Aircraft composite

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 140 mph (220 km/h, 120 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 121 mph (195 km/h, 105 kn)
  • Stall speed: 45 mph (72 km/h, 39 kn)
  • Range: 450 mi (720 km, 390 nmi)
  • g limits: +4/-2
  • Rate of climb: 980 ft/min (5 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 9.55 lb/sq ft (46.6 kg/m2)

References
  1. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 30. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 32. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. Jane's Information Group (2009). "Aviadesign A-16 Sport Falcon (United States), Aircraft - Fixed-wing - Civil". Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  4. Experimental Aircraft Association (15 January 2007). "Bigger and better: Sebring's third LSA expo a rousing success". Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  5. Johnson, Dan (18 March 2010). "New tandem LSA headed to market". General Aviation News. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  6. Federal Aviation Administration (3 March 2015). "SLSA Make/Model Directory". Archived from the original on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  7. Skytamer (2011). "Aviadesign A-16 Sport Falcon two-seat light sport aircraft". Retrieved 9 May 2012.
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