Cheetah
Role Ultralight aircraft and Light-sport aircraft
National origin South Africa
Manufacturer Rainbow Aircraft
Designer Vladimir Chechin
Status In production (2012)
Developed from Best Off Skyranger
Variants Rainbow Cheetah XLS

The Rainbow Cheetah a South African ultralight and light-sport aircraft, designed by Vladimir Chechin and produced by Rainbow Aircraft. 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 derived from the Best Off Skyranger[1] and designed to comply with Canadian Advanced Ultralight criteria and the US light-sport aircraft rules. It features a strut-braced high-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit with optional doors for access, fixed tricycle landing gear or optionally conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.[1][2]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its flying surfaces covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 9.6 m (31.5 ft) span wing has an area of 13.25 m2 (142.6 sq ft) and mounts flaps. Standard engines available are the 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 two-stroke, the 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912UL and the 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS four-stroke powerplants.[1]

The Cheetah XLS has been accepted by Transport Canada as an Advanced Ultralight as both a land plane and seaplane, powered by the Rotax 582 two-stroke, the Rotax 912UL, the Rotax 912ULS, the Verner VM133 and the 85 hp (63 kW) Jabiru 2200A engines.[3]

Operational history

By August 2012 there were three Cheetahs on the Federal Aviation Administration registry and two on the Transport Canada Civil Aircraft Register.[4][5]

Variants

Cheetah XLS
Current production model (2012) with tricycle landing gear.[1][6]
Cheetah XLS Taildragger
Current production model (2012) with conventional landing gear.[1][7]

Specifications (Cheetah XLS)

Data from Bayerl and manufacturer[1][8]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 5.67 m (18 ft 7 in)
  • Wingspan: 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)
  • Height: 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in) to top of wing
  • Wing area: 13.25 m2 (142.6 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 7.01
  • Empty weight: 248 kg (547 lb)
  • Gross weight: 560 kg (1,235 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 100 litres (22 imp gal; 26 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912UL four cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 60 kW (80 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 177 km/h (110 mph, 96 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 135 km/h (84 mph, 73 kn)
  • Stall speed: 56 km/h (35 mph, 30 kn) flaps down
  • Never exceed speed: 201 km/h (125 mph, 109 kn)
  • Range: 1,080 km (670 mi, 580 nmi) with reserves
  • Endurance: 7.5 hours
  • g limits: +6g/-4g
  • Maximum glide ratio: 10:1
  • Rate of climb: 5.3 m/s (1,040 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 42.3 kg/m2 (8.7 lb/sq ft)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 72. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. ↑ Experimental Aircraft Association (2012). "EAA's Listing of Special Light-Sport Aircraft". Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  3. ↑ Transport Canada (15 August 2012). "Listing of Models Eligible to be Registered as Advanced Ultra-Light Aeroplanes (AULA)". Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  4. ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (27 August 2012). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  5. ↑ Transport Canada (27 August 2012). "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register". Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  6. ↑ "Rainbow Aircraft Cheetah XLS". Rainbowaircraft.co.za. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  7. ↑ "Rainbow Aircraft Cheetah XLS Taildragger". Rainbowaircraft.co.za. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  8. ↑ "Raindow Aircraft Cheetah XLS Specifications". Rainbowaircraft.co.za. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
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