Pipistrel Sinus
| Pipistrel Sinus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Ultralight Aircraft |
| National origin | Slovenia |
| Manufacturer | Pipistrel |
| First flight | 1995 |
| Number built | 300 (2011)[1] |
| Unit cost |
€ 75,000 base price |
The Pipistrel Sinus is a single-engine ultralight, motor glider developed by Pipistrel.[1][2]
Development
The development of the Sinus began in 1994 in close collaboration with the Slovenian firm Albastar Ltd. A year later, the Sinus was unveiled at AERO Friedrichshafen 1995, with first flight of the prototype taking place in 1996.[3]
In 2001, Philippe Zen and Thomas Knowles flew a Sinus at the World Air Games in Spain and won first place in the two-seat category.
Design
The Sinus is a two-seat, ultra-light, high-wing, cantilever monoplane. It is primarily built from composite materials and is capable of soaring. The variable-pitch propeller (Pipistrel VARIO) can be feathered in order to diminish the air resistance in non-powered flight.[4]
The Pipistrel Sinus comes with either nose-wheel or taildragger landing gear. Engine models available are the Rotax 503, 582 and 912.
Variants
- Sinus 447
- Rotax 447 powered variant for the Slovenian market.
- Sinus 503
- Rotax 503 powered variant with a variable-pitch folding propeller.
- Sinus 582
- As the 503 but fitted with a Rotax 582.
- Sinus 912
- Rotax 912 powered variant.[4]
- Sinus FLEX
- Option features two wingtip sets to convert from motor glider to sport cruiser in minutes. With the short wing tips the aircraft is the same as the Pipistrel Virus. The wing tips can also be used on any existing Sinus and not just new-built aircraft.[5]
Specifications (Sinus 912)
General characteristics
- Crew: two
- Length: 6.6 m (21 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan: 14.97 m (49 ft 1 in)
- Height: 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in)
- Empty weight: 284 kg (626 lb)
- Loaded weight: 472.5 kg (1,042 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 544 kg (1,200 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax Rotax 912UL 4-cylinder, 4-stroke liquid-cooled engine, 80 hp (60 kW)
- * Fuel capacity: 2×30 L (2×8 U.S. gal)
- Baggage capacity:
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 225 km/h (120 kt)
- Cruise speed: 200 km/h (110 kt)
- Stall speed: 63 km/h (34 kt)
- Range: 1,200 km (650 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 8,800 m (28,900 ft)
- Rate of climb: 6.2 m/s (1,220 ft/min)
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
- 1 2 Vandermeullen, Richard: 2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 63. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- ↑ Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 312. BAI Communications, July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
- ↑ Albastar Ltd (2012). "Development project of the last decade". Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- 1 2 Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 136. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
- ↑ Pew, Glenn (2013-09-05). "Pipistrel Offers Flex Wing". Avweb. Retrieved 2013-09-09.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pipistrel Sinus. |
- Pipistrel Sinus aircraft specification
- AVweb news publishes an article about Pipistrel
- The Popular Science magazine lists Taurus Electro among Ten Best Innovations of 2008
- NASA says: Pipistrel Sinus is World's best aircraft