Stits SA-7 Sky-Coupe

The Stits SA-7 Skycoupe is a two-seat, side-by-side seating, high wing homebuilt aircraft designed by Ray Stits.[2]

Stits SA-7 Skycoupe
Role Homebuilt aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Stits Aircraft
Designer Ray Stits, Harold Dale
First flight 1957
Introduction 1957
Unit cost
approximately $2700 to build in 1971[1]

Design

Ray Stits designed 14 different homebuilt aircraft kits that were some of the first available to the general public built in quantity.[3] Stits is also known to the general public as the maker of the Stits Junior, Stits SA-2A Sky Baby,[4] and Stits Baby Bird, each of which was once the world's smallest aircraft.[5] Engineer Harold Dale assisted in the certification process after completing his Dale Weejet 800.[6]

The Skycoupe was provided as a kit with a pre-fabricated steel tube fuselage. The surfaces are fabric covered. The aircraft was designed to accommodate engines ranging from 60 to 90 hp (45 to 67 kW).

Variants
SA-7A
SA-7B
Powered by a Continental C85
SA-7C
SA-7D
Updated with a squared off swept tail configuration.
SA-9A
A type certificated version.

Specifications Stits SA-7B Sky-Coupe

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1961–62[7]

General characteristics

  • Capacity: 2
  • Length: 17 ft 9 in (5.41 m)
  • Wingspan: 25 ft 9 in (7.85 m)
  • Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
  • Wing area: 120 sq ft (11 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 5:1
  • Airfoil: NACA 4412
  • Empty weight: 650 lb (295 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,175 lb (533 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 18 US gal (15 imp gal; 68 L)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental C85 air-cooled flat-four, 85 hp (63 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 120 kn (138 mph, 222 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 100 kn (120 mph, 190 km/h)
  • Stall speed: 42 kn (48 mph, 77 km/h)
  • Range: 350 nmi (400 mi, 640 km)
  • Service ceiling: 12,000 ft (3,700 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)

See also

Related development

References
  1. Leo J. Kohn (Winter 1971). "The true cost of building your own plane". Air Trails: 63.
  2. Leo J. Kohn (Feb 1957). "The Latest in the Stits Line". experimenter.
  3. "Students Restore Sky Coupe". Archived from the original on 22 November 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  4. Hearst Magazines (September 1952). "Seven Foot Airplane Flies 150 Miles Per Hour". Popular Mechanics. Hearst Magazines. p. 117.
  5. "Ray Stits". Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  6. Trefethen, Joan (May 1959). "The 'Weejet'". Sport Aviation: 4–5.
  7. Taylor 1961, p. 326
  • Taylor, John W. R. (1961). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1961–62. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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