Sunward ST
| ST | |
|---|---|
| Role | Ultralight trike |
| National origin | China |
| Manufacturer | Sunward Tech |
| Status | In production (2018) |
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]
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)