Spider
Role Ultralight trike
National origin Slovenia
Manufacturer Pipistrel
Introduction 1980s
Status Production complete (2018)
Produced 1980s - present
Number built 250 (1998)[1]

The Pipistrel Spider is a Slovenian ultralight trike, designed and produced by Pipistrel of Ajdovščina. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1]

The Spider was sold in Europe by Flight Team UG & Company AG of Ippesheim, Germany and was sometimes called the Flight Team Spider.[2]

By October 2018 it was listed as a "legacy" product and production had ended.[3]

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 450 kg (992 lb). It features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit with an optional cockpit fairing, tricycle landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1]

The aircraft is made from composites and steel tubing, with its double surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. A number of different wings can be fitted to the basic carriage, but typical is a 10.50 m (34.4 ft) span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplant is a twin cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 or the twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine. The aircraft has an empty weight of 130 kg (287 lb) and a gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb), giving a useful load of 320 kg (705 lb). With full fuel of 42 litres (9.2 imp gal; 11 US gal) the payload is 290 kg (639 lb).[1][4]

The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off and landing roll with a 50 hp (37 kW) engine is 30 m (98 ft).[1]

The manufacturer estimates the construction time from the supplied kit as 150 hours.[1]

Operational history

By 1998 the company reported that 250 kits had been sold were flying.[1]

Specifications (Spider)

Data from Purdy[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Wingspan: 10.50 m (34 ft 5 in)
  • Empty weight: 129.75 kg (286 lb)
  • Gross weight: 450 kg (992 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 42 litres (9.2 imp gal; 11 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 503 twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 37 kW (50 hp)
  • Propellers: 4-bladed ground adjustable composite

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 179 km/h (111 mph, 96 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 121 km/h (75 mph, 65 kn)
  • Stall speed: 55 km/h (34 mph, 30 kn)
  • Range: 500 km (310 mi, 270 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 6,700 m (22,000 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 5.00 m/s (984 ft/min)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 222. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  2. ↑ Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 211. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. ↑ "Pipistrel Aircraft Spider - Pipistrel". www.pipistrel.si. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  4. ↑ "Pipistrel Aircraft Spider Technical Data". Pipistrel.si. Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
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