Sunward SA 60L Aurora

The Sunward SA 60L Aurora is a Chinese light-sport aircraft, designed and produced by Sunward Aircraft, a division of Hunan Science and Technologies Co Ltd, an industrial machine manufacturer located in the Lu Gu High Technology Development Zone. The aircraft is intended to be supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1][2]

SA 60L Aurora
Aurora prototype
Role Light-sport aircraft
National origin China
Manufacturer Sunward Aircraft
Status Under development (2011)

Design and development

The Aurora was designed to comply with the US light-sport aircraft rules. It features a cantilever low-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration. The aircraft's 8.6 m (28.2 ft) span wing has a rectangular planform and employs flaps. The standard engine available is the Austrian-made 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS four-stroke powerplant.[1][2]

The Civil Aviation Administration of China granted the design a type design approval in mid-2013.[2]

Bayerl et al. note that the Aurora closely resembles the Fly Synthesis Texan, but that the manufacturer claims the Aurora is an original design.[1]

The aircraft can be equipped for banner-towing, aerial photography and has an airshow smoke generation system available.[2]

In July 2014 the company announced an improved version, the SA 60V, with an upgraded engines installation using Austrian, rather than Chinese components and an IFR capable instrument panel.[3]

The design was added to the Federal Aviation Administration's list of approved special light-sport aircraft on 20 August 2019.[4][5]

Operational history

Reviewer Marino Boric described the design in a 2015 review as "stylish" and "elegant".[2]

Variants
SA 60L
Original model[2]
SA 60V
Upgraded model with engine installation improvements and IFR instrumentation[3]

Specifications (SA 60L Aurora)

Data from Bayerl, Tacke and manufacturer[1][2][6]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 6.9 m (22 ft 8 in)
  • Wingspan: 8.6 m (28 ft 3 in)
  • Height: 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
  • Wing area: 11.8 m2 (127 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 340 kg (750 lb)
  • Gross weight: 600 kg (1,323 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 120 litres (26 imp gal; 32 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912ULS four cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 75 kW (101 hp)

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 220 km/h (140 mph, 120 kn)
  • Stall speed: 73 km/h (45 mph, 39 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 270 km/h (170 mph, 150 kn)
  • Range: 1,200 km (750 mi, 650 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 5.5 m/s (1,080 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 50.8 kg/m2 (10.4 lb/sq ft)

Avionics

  • Garmin Aero500

References
  1. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 78. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 82. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. China Aviation News (31 July 2014). "Zhuzhou A Ruo La SA60 launched upgrade type". www.cannews.com.cn. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  4. Federal Aviation Administration (16 June 2022). "SLSA Make/Model Directory". Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  5. "FAA officially included Sunward SA60L aircraft in the SLSA brand model catalog". 22 August 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  6. Sunward Aircraft (2015). "Product parameters". en.sunwardtech.com. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
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