Kid
Role Ultralight trike
National origin France
Manufacturer Aquilair
Status Production completed (2014)

The Aquilair Kid is a French ultralight trike designed and produced by Aquilair of Theizé. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1]

Design and development

The aircraft 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 300 kg (661 lb). 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.[1]

The aircraft is made from metal tubing, with its wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 9.9 m (32.5 ft) span Star 12 wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The standard powerplant is a twin cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 engine, with the 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447 and the 64 hp (48 kW) liquid-cooled Rotax 582 optional.[1]

With the Star 12 wing the aircraft has an empty weight of 132 kg (291 lb) and a gross weight of 300 kg (661 lb), giving a useful load of 168 kg (370 lb). With full fuel of 30 litres (6.6 imp gal; 7.9 US gal) the payload is 146 kg (322 lb).[1]

The aircraft is supplied in modular form, with the chassis, engine, reduction drive and propeller all available separately. A number of different wings can be fitted to the basic carriage, but the Star 12 was formerly the standard wing offered. The chassis incorporates an under-seat pivot system that allows the wing to be mounted and then raised into position.[1]

Variants

Kid 447
Aircraft with the twin cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, single-ignition 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447 and the 64 hp (48 kW)[1]
Kid 503
Aircraft with the twin cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 engine[1]
Kid 582
Aircraft with the twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine[1]

Specifications (Kid 503 with Star 12 wing)

Data from Bayerl[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wingspan: 9.9 m (32 ft 6 in)
  • Wing area: 12.9 m2 (139 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 132 kg (291 lb)
  • Gross weight: 300 kg (661 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 30 litres (6.6 imp gal; 7.9 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 503 twin cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition aircraft engine, 37 kW (50 hp)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed wooden

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 145 km/h (90 mph, 78 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 90 km/h (56 mph, 49 kn)
  • Stall speed: 52 km/h (32 mph, 28 kn)
  • Rate of climb: 5 m/s (980 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 23.2 kg/m2 (4.8 lb/sq ft)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 205. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
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