ARV Griffin

The ARV Griffin is a Canadian homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Dave Marsden of the University of Alberta and produced by Canada Air RV and later by AC Millennium Corp, both of Edmonton. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1][2][3][4][5]

ARV Griffin
Role Homebuilt aircraft
National origin Canada
Manufacturer Canada Air RV
AC Millennium Corp
Designer Dave Marsden
Status Production completed
Number built 5 (2013)

Both companies are out of business and production ended.

Design and development

The aircraft features a strut-braced high wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit accessed via doors, fixed tricycle landing gear, or, optionally conventional landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in tractor configuration.[1]

The aircraft is made from sheet aluminum. Its 35.50 ft (10.8 m) span high aspect ratio wing employs a Marsden-designed IARV 419 airfoil, mounts flaps and has a wing area of 136.00 sq ft (12.635 m2). Winglets were a factory option to improve low speed handling, lateral control and STOL performance. The cabin width is 47 in (120 cm) and the wings detach for ground transportation or storage. The acceptable power range for the Griffin Mark III is 65 to 150 hp (48 to 112 kW) and the standard engines used are the 100 hp (75 kW) Continental O-200A, 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912, 74 hp (55 kW) Rotax 618 two-stroke or the 100 hp (75 kW) CAM 100 powerplants. Mounts were also available for the 130 hp (97 kW) Subaru EA81, 108 hp (81 kW) Lycoming O-235 and Suzuki engines.[1][3][6][7]

The Griffin Mark III has a typical empty weight of 840 lb (380 kg) and a gross weight of 1,500 lb (680 kg), giving a useful load of 660 lb (300 kg). With a full fuel load of 37 U.S. gallons (140 L; 31 imp gal) the payload for pilot, passenger and baggage is 438 lb (199 kg). The seats are fully adjustable and removable.[1]

The fitting of floats and skis was listed as being under development in 1998. The Mark III kit included all-aluminum parts cut and bent, with fuselage, wing and tail assemblies pre-jigged. The aircraft could be bought as four separate sub-kits. The manufacturer estimates the construction time from the supplied kit as 800 hours for the Mark III and 600 hours for the Mark IV.[1][3][4][5]

Operational history

By 1998 the company reported that 18 kits had been sold and three aircraft were flying.[1]

In December 2013 four were registered with Transport Canada and one in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.[8][9]

Variants
Griffin
Initial version developed by Canada Air RV, with gross weight of 1,500 lb (680 kg) and powered by a 100 hp (75 kW) Continental O-200A.[3]
Griffin Mark III
Version produced by Canada Air RV and AC Millennium, with gross weight of 1,500 lb (680 kg) and powered by a 100 hp (75 kW) Continental O-200A, 74 hp (55 kW) Rotax 618 two-stroke, 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912 or 100 hp (75 kW) CAM 100.[1][4]
Griffin Mark IV
Version produced by AC Millennium, with gross weight of 1,730 lb (780 kg), a wing area of 115.5 sq ft (10.73 m2) and powered by a 160 hp (119 kW) Lycoming O-320.[5]

Specifications (Griffin Mark III)

Data from AeroCrafter and The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage[1][6]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 21 ft 0 in (6.40 m)
  • Wingspan: 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m)
  • Wing area: 136.00 sq ft (12.635 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 9.27
  • Airfoil: IARV 419
  • Empty weight: 840 lb (381 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,500 lb (680 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 37 U.S. gallons (140 L; 31 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental O-200A four cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 100 hp (75 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 135 mph (217 km/h, 117 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 121 mph (195 km/h, 105 kn)
  • Stall speed: 45 mph (72 km/h, 39 kn) flaps down
  • Range: 700 mi (1,100 km, 610 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 13,000 ft (4,000 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,030 ft/min (5.2 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 11.0 lb/sq ft (54 kg/m2)

References
  1. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 135. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  2. Canada Air RV (25 January 1998). "The Griffin's Ancestors: Other Marsden Designs". Archived from the original on 6 December 1998. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  3. Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 40. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  4. Downey, Julia: 2002 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 18, Number 12, December 2001, page 15. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851
  5. Newby-Gonzalez, Tori: 2004 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 20, Number 12, December 2003, page 36. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  6. Lednicer, David (2010). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". Archived from the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  7. Canada Air RV (13 September 1997). "Canada AIR R.V. Introduces the ARV Griffin". Archived from the original on 15 January 1998. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  8. Transport Canada (21 December 2013). "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register". Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  9. Federal Aviation Administration (21 December 2013). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved 21 December 2013.
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