Thorp T-211

The T-211 is a light aircraft designed in the US by John Thorp in 1945. It is a low-wing monoplane of conventional layout with a fixed tricycle undercarriage and a sliding canopy. John Thorp developed the Sky Scooter with lessons learned from developing the Lockheed Little Dipper project in 1944.[1] It bears some family resemblance to the Piper Cherokee, a design that Thorp later significantly contributed to.

T-211
Role sportplane
Manufacturer Homebuilt design
IndUS Aviation as Light Sport
Designer John Thorp
First flight 1945
Status In production (2015)

Development
2005-built Indus T211 Sky Skooter

Thorp constructed eight prototypes, had the design certified by the FAA but was unable to find a foothold in the Cessna-dominated post-war US market. The original prototypes were powered by a 65 hp Lycoming engine.[1] Novel features of the Sky Skooter include an all-movable horizontal stabilizer and externally ribbed wings and tailplane. The wings were corrugated to impart stiffness, each wing needing only three internal ribs. This feature simplified construction, reduced the number of rivits (and weight), and helped control the spanwise flow of air over the wings. [1] The T-211 was developed with a 90-horsepower Continental upgrade in 1953. The project was therefore shelved until the homebuilding boom saw the rights to the aircraft acquired first by Adams Industries and then by Thorp Aero in the 1970s, the latter firm building five examples as the Thorp Arrow or T-211 Aero Sport built in Sturgis Kentucky, but only sold overseas or to part 141 operations due to current liability laws.[2] The kits were then manufactured by AD Aerospace in the United Kingdom and Venture Light Aircraft in the United States.

IndUS Aviation began production of the T-211 according to the guidelines of Light Sport Aircraft in the mid-2000s. The Thorp T-211 was the first US-designed Special Light Sport Aircraft to receive certification from the Federal Aviation Administration. The light-sport version uses the 120 hp (89 kW) Jabiru 3300 engine, while the type certified version uses a 100 hp (75 kW) Continental O-200 engine and is equipped for both VFR and IFR flying.[3]

In 2010, the aircraft was also back in production as a kit aircraft by AD Aerospace of Manchester, United Kingdom. This model is powered by a four-cylinder 100 hp (75 kW) Continental O-200 or a six-cylinder 120 hp (89 kW) Jabiru 3300 powerplant.[3][4]

Variants
Thorp Sky Skooter
1946
Thorp T-211
1953
Tubular Aircraft Products
1965 - Built 100 parts kits with Continental O-200 powerplants with 11 production models built
Thorp Aero
1983 - Purchased rights and tooling
IndUS Aviation
LSA production in India

Specifications (T-211)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982–83[5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1 pilot
  • Capacity: 1 passenger
  • Length: 18 ft 0 in (5.49 m)
  • Wingspan: 25 ft 0 in (7.62 m)
  • Height: 8 ft 0 in (2.44 m)
  • Wing area: 105.0 sq ft (9.75 m2)
  • Empty weight: 733 lb (332 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,270 lb (576 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 23 US gal (19 imp gal; 87 L)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental O-200-A air-cooled flat four, 100 hp (75 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed McCauley fixed pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 158 mph (254 km/h, 137 kn) at sea level
  • Cruise speed: 120 mph (190 km/h, 100 kn) (75% power)
  • Stall speed: 39 mph (63 km/h, 34 kn) (flaps down)
  • Range: 480 mi (770 km, 420 nmi) at 55% power
  • Service ceiling: 19,000 ft (5,800 m)
  • Rate of climb: 950 ft/min (4.8 m/s)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. Max Karant (August 1947). "The Thorp Sky Scooter". Flying Magazine.
  2. "Tomorrows Trainer Yesterday?". Air Progress. October 1991.
  3. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011–12, page 60 and 90. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  4. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, pages 92. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  5. Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1982). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982–83. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.
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