Cosmos Samba
| Samba | |
|---|---|
| Role | Ultralight trike |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Cosmos ULM |
| Status | In production |
| Unit cost | |
The Cosmos Samba, named after the dance of the same name, is a French flying wing ultralight trike that is produced by Cosmos ULM of Fontaine-lès-Dijon, France. The aircraft is supplied as a complete aircraft and is not available as a kit.[1][2][3]
Design and development
The Samba is a minimalist aircraft, sometimes referred to as a nanolight-trike. It was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 210 lb (95 kg). 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.[2][3]
The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing. The Tedlar-covered single surface wing is a French La Mouette Topless M design that uses an internal Kevlar cross-bar reinforcement in place of a kingpost and ground wires. The lower flying wires are retained, however, giving the aircraft a load rating of +6/-3g. Control is weight-shift via an "A" frame control bar.[2][3]
The lack of the kingpost and associated cables allows the Samba a top speed of 93 km/h (58 mph) on only 16 kW (21 hp) of power provided by a Zenoah G-25 single cylinder, two stroke powerplant. Because of its low drag the aircraft is suitable for power-off soaring flight and the engine can be restarted in flight.[2][3]
The Samba can be disassembled for storage or car-top transport in 20 minutes.[2]
Specifications (Samba)
Data from Cliche, Bertrand and Purdy[1][2][3]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Length: 2 m (6 ft)
- Wingspan: 10.12 m (33 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 14.1 m2 (152 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 95 kg (210 lb)
- Gross weight: 204 kg (450 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 10 litres (2.2 imp gal; 2.6 US gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Zenoah G-25 single cylinder, two stroke aircraft engine, 16 kW (21 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 93 km/h (58 mph; 50 kn)
- Cruise speed: 72 km/h; 39 kn (45 mph)
- Stall speed: 40 km/h; 22 kn (25 mph)
- Range: 129 km; 70 nmi (80 mi)
- Service ceiling: 5,486 m (18,000 ft)
- g limits: +6/-3
- Rate of climb: 3.0 m/s (600 ft/min)
- Rate of sink: 1.5 m/s (300 ft/min)
References
- 1 2 3 Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 98. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page C-8. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
- 1 2 3 4 5 Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 142. BAI Communications. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
