The Sunward ST is a Chinese ultralight trike designed and produced by Sunward Tech (Hunan Sunward Science & Technologies Company Limited) of Zhuzhou. The aircraft is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.[1]
| ST | |
|---|---|
| Role | Ultralight trike |
| National origin | China |
| Manufacturer | Sunward Tech |
| Status | In production (2018) |
Design and development edit
The ST was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, including the category's maximum gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb). The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb).[1]
The aircraft design features a strut-braced topless hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit with a cockpit fairing, tricycle landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1]
The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing and composites. It uses a double surface Grif Hazard wing, made by the Italian company Grif Italia. The 10.38 m (34.1 ft) span wing is supported by struts and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplant is an Austrian-made twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine or four cylinder, air and liquid-cooled, four-stroke, dual-ignition 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912UL engine.[1]
The Rotax 582-equipped model has an empty weight of 198 kg (437 lb) and a gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb), giving a useful load of 252 kg (556 lb). With full fuel of 60 litres (13 imp gal; 16 US gal) the payload is 209 kg (461 lb).[1]
Variants edit
- ST582
- Model powered by a Rotax 582 two-stroke powerplant. Designed for flight training and aerial work, an agricultural aircraft version was introduced in 2012 with crop-spraying gear. This includes a 120 kg (265 lb)-capacity tank that can cover 13.34 km2 (5 sq mi).[1]
- ST912
- Model powered by a Rotax 912UL four-stroke powerplant.[1]
Specifications (ST582) edit
Data from Tacke[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Wingspan: 10.38 m (34 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 16.8 m2 (181 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 198 kg (437 lb)
- Gross weight: 450 kg (992 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 60 litres (13 imp gal; 16 US gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 582 two-cylinder, liquid-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 48 kW (64 hp)
- Propellers: 3-bladed composite
Performance
- Maximum speed: 105 km/h (65 mph, 57 kn)
- Cruise speed: 80 km/h (50 mph, 43 kn)
- Stall speed: 40 km/h (25 mph, 22 kn)
- Wing loading: 27.8 kg/m2 (5.7 lb/sq ft)