FD-Composites ArrowCopter
| ArrowCopter | |
|---|---|
 | |
| ArrowCopter AC 10 in flight on 7 March 2012 | |
| Role | Autogyro |
| National origin | Austria |
| Manufacturer | FD-Composites GmbH |
| Designer | Dietmar Fuchs |
| First flight | 20 November 2008 |
| Introduction | 2011 |
| Status | In production |
| Produced | 2011 - present |
| Number built | at least 40 by 2015 |
|
| |
The ArrowCopter is a series of Austrian autogyros, designed and produced by FD-Composites GmbH of Zeillern. The ArrowCopter AC20 series is supplied as complete, factory built ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1][2]
Design and development
The ArrowCopter was designed to comply with British BCAR Section T rules. It features a single main rotor, a two-seats in tandem configuration enclosed cockpit with a bubble canopy, stub wings, tricycle landing gear and a four-cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, four-stroke, dual-ignition turbocharged 115 hp (86 kW) Rotax 914 engine in pusher configuration. The 100 hp (75 kW) normally aspirated Rotax 912S and a 118 hp (88 kW) BMW boxer engine with a reduction drive were reported as being under consideration in 2011 as alternate powerplants.[1]
The aircraft fuselage is made from an autoclave-cured carbon fibre/kevlar sandwich and mounts an 8.50 m (27.9 ft) diameter rotor. The main landing gear wheels are mounted on the tips of the short wings. The AC 10 has an empty weight of 250 kg (550 lb) and a gross weight of 450 kg (990 lb), giving a useful load of 200 kg (440 lb).[1]
The AC 10 flew for the first time on 20 November 2008 and the first production examples appeared in 2011. Production of the AC 20 began in 2012. By 2015 at least 40 aircraft had been produced, going to customers in nine countries.[3]
Operational history
By January 2013 one example of the ArrowCopter AC10 had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.[4]
Variants
- FD-Composites ArrowCopter AC10
- Initial version with a maximum takeoff mass of 560 kg (1,230 lb)[1]
- FD-Composites ArrowCopter AC20
- Production version with an empty mass of approximately 350 kg (770 lb) and a MTOM of 560 kg (1,230 lb)[5]
Specifications (AC20)
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Length: 5.8 m (19 ft 0 in)
- Width: 2.455 m (8 ft 1 in)
- Height: 2.881 m (9 ft 5 in)
- Empty weight: 350 kg (772 lb)
- Gross weight: 560 kg (1,235 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 560 kg (1,235 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 72 litres (16 imp gal; 19 US gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 914 four cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, turbocharged four stroke aircraft engine, 86 kW (115 hp)
- Main rotor diameter: 8.50 m (27 ft 11 in)
- Propellers: 2-bladed FD-Composites
Performance
- Maximum speed: 195 km/h (121 mph; 105 kn)
- Cruising speed: 165 km/h (103 mph; 89 kn)
- Vmin: 30 km/h (16 kn; 19 mph))
- Never exceed speed: 195 km/h (121 mph; 105 kn)
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 180. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
- ↑ FD-Composites (n.d.). "Contact Manufacturer & Distribution". Retrieved 3 January 2013.
- ↑ Gunston, Bill (2016). Jane's All the World's Aircraft : development & production : 2016-17. IHS Global. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-7106-3177-0.
- ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (2 January 2013). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- 1 2 "ArrowCopter technical details". www.arrow-copter.com. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arrow-Copter AC10. |