A-16 Sport Falcon | |
---|---|
Role | Light-sport aircraft |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Aviadesign |
First flight | 2006 |
Introduction | 2007 |
Status | Production completed |
Number built | 2 |
The Aviadesign A-16 Sport Falcon is an American light-sport aircraft that was designed by Aviadesign, a certified aircraft modification company based in Camarillo, California. The A-16 was announced at Sun 'n Fun April 2006 and introduced at the LSA Expo held in Sebring, Florida in 2007. The aircraft was to be supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Jane's Information Group reports that two prototypes were completed by 2006, but it is not clear if any other examples ever flew before the company went out of business. [3]
The aircraft was designed to comply with the US light-sport aircraft rules. It features a strut-braced high-wing, a two-seats-in- tandem enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration. [1] [2]
The aircraft is made with a welded steel tubing airframe. Its 29 ft (8.8 m) span wing employs a single strut per side. The standard engine for production examples was intended to be the 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS four-stroke powerplant. Entry to the cockpit is via an airstair door. [1] [2]
The design is listed on the Federal Aviation Administration's list of accepted SLSAs, but as no longer in production. [6]
In March 2010 reviewer Dan Johnson reported on a test flight in the prototype:
the interior is spacious and comfortable, more so than many other LSAs; handling is predictable with no bad traits I could uncover; the airplane is well equipped and expects to have a price somewhere in the $110,000 range, though this decision is still being reviewed; visibility is enormous, with the pilot sitting about 4 feet in front of the wing; even the aft seat has good room, very good visibility, and full controls — it turns out my smoothest landings were from the rear. [5]
General characteristics
Performance