Airborne T-Lite

The Airborne T-Lite is an Australian ultralight trike, designed and produced by Airborne Windsports of Redhead, New South Wales. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1]

T-Lite
Role Ultralight trike
National origin Australia
Manufacturer Airborne Windsports
Status In production (2013)

Design and development

The T-Lite was designed as both a cross country powered aircraft and self-launching motor glider for soaring. The aircraft was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category as well as the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules. It features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a single-seat open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminium tubing, with its double surface Airborne Core wing covered in Dacron sailcloth, with the top surface finished in mylar PX cloth. The 9.5 m (31.2 ft) span Core wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplant is a purpose-designed, single cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke, 22 hp (16 kW) Bailey B200 engine, with electric starting and a 3.2:1 reduction drive. The aircraft has an empty weight of 90 kg (198 lb) and a gross weight of 210 kg (463 lb), giving a useful load of 120 kg (265 lb). With full fuel of 10 litres (2.2 imp gal; 2.6 US gal) the payload is 113 kg (249 lb). The permitted pilot weight range is 50 to 110 kg (110 to 243 lb).[1][2]

The T-Lite is designed to be quickly disassembled for ground transport. The 10 litres (2.2 imp gal; 2.6 US gal) fuel tank is located behind the pilot's seat and can be disconnected quickly to allow transporting it independently of the aircraft for refueling.[1]

Specifications (T-Lite)

Data from Bayerl and Airborne Windsports[1][2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Length: 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in)
  • Wingspan: 9.5 m (31 ft 2 in)
  • Height: 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in)
  • Wing area: 15.6 m2 (168 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 90 kg (198 lb)
  • Gross weight: 210 kg (463 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 10 litres (2.2 imp gal; 2.6 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Bailey B200 single cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 16 kW (22 hp)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed Helix-Carbon H30F L-M-08-2, 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) diameter

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 58 km/h (36 mph, 31 kn)
  • Stall speed: 32 km/h (20 mph, 17 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 85 km/h (53 mph, 46 kn)
  • Range: 239 km (149 mi, 129 nmi)
  • g limits: +4/0g (flight limits) +6/-3g (ultimate load limits)
  • Maximum glide ratio: 7.82:1
  • Rate of climb: 1.6 m/s (310 ft/min)
  • Rate of sink: 1.6 m/s (310 ft/min)

References
  1. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 201. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. Airborne Windsports (2011). "T-Lite Specifications". Retrieved 15 March 2013.
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