Sorrell Hiperlight

The Sorrell Hiperlight is a family of single and two seat, negative stagger biplanes, designed for amateur construction.[1][2][3][4][5]

Hiperlight
Role Ultralight aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Thunderbird Aviation
Designer Sorrell brothers
First flight 1982
Introduction 1982
Status In production
Number built 603 (SNS-8, Dec 2011)
26 (SNS-9, Dec 2011)[1]
Developed from Sorrell Hiperbipe

The design was sold initially by Sunrise Aircraft of Sheridan, Oregon and as of May 2022 was produced by Thunderbird Aviation of Ray, Michigan.[2][3][4][5][6]

Development

The single seat SNS-8 Hiperlight was designed by the Sorrell brothers in 1982 at the request of the US Rotax engine distributor to provide an enclosed cockpit aircraft design to utilize the 28 hp (21 kW) Rotax 277 engine. The resulting aircraft was a scaled-down version of the very successful Sorrell Hiperbipe aerobatic cabin biplane and with an empty weight of 247 lb (112 kg) fit the US ultralight category. The series designation of "SNS" stands for Sorrell Negative Stagger.[2][7]

The aircraft is described as easy to fly, with light control forces and well balanced controls. The aircraft has full-span ailerons on the bottom wing that droop together when the stick is pulled back, giving the same effect as flaps in the landing flare.[2]

28 hp (21 kW) is sufficient to power the design and it does not require larger engines. Since the Rotax 277 has been out of production for many years engines such as the 2si 460 or Hirth F-33 are often used.[2]

Design

The aircraft features a welded steel tube forward fuselage, with a detachable aluminium tube aft fuselage. The rear fuselage can be easily removed for transport or storage in ten minutes. The wings are also constructed from aluminium tubes and the whole aircraft is covered in aircraft fabric. The SNS-8 has a maximum pilot weight of 230 lb (104 kg).[2][3][4]

The SNS-8 kit was estimated as taking 200–300 hours to assemble.[2]

Sunrise Aircraft developed the single seat SNS-8 into the SNS-9 two-seater. The SNS-9 is minimally larger with a wingspan of 23.4 ft (7.1 m) versus the SNS-8's 22 ft (6.7 m), length increased from 15.6 ft (4.8 m) to 18 ft (5.5 m) and gross weight increased from 500 lb (227 kg) to 814 lb (369 kg). The SNS-9 uses the 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 as its standard powerplant and had an optional Wankel engine available.[2][5]

Variants
Sorrell Hiperlight
SNS-8
Single seat version[2][3][4][5]
SNS-9
Two seat version[2][4][5]
Hiperlight EXP
EXP II

Specifications (SNS-8)

Data from Cliche and Kitplanes[2][3][4][5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Length: 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
  • Wingspan: 22 ft 0 in (6.71 m)
  • Height: 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
  • Wing area: 140 sq ft (13 m2)
  • Empty weight: 247 lb (112 kg)
  • Gross weight: 500 lb (227 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 5 US gallons (19 litres)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 277 single cylinder two stroke piston aircraft engine, 28 hp (21 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 98 mph (158 km/h, 85 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 60 mph (97 km/h, 52 kn)
  • Stall speed: 27 mph (43 km/h, 23 kn)
  • Range: 180 mi (290 km, 160 nmi)
  • Rate of climb: 600 ft/min (3.0 m/s)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 72. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  2. Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page B-30 and B-83. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
  3. Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 69. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  4. Downey, Julia: 2002 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 18, Number 12, December 2001, page 69. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  5. Downey, Julia: 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 75. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  6. Jones, Ron (2009). "Thunderbird Aviation". Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  7. Recreational Aviation Australia (December 2003). "Sorrell Hiperlight". Retrieved 18 April 2010.
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