“Calumet Snobird Explorer”的意思、由来-开放百科全书

The Calumet Snobird Explorer is an American autogyro produced by Calumet Motorsports of Lansing, Illinois, introduced in May 1997. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.^[1]

Design and development

Calumet Aeronautics acquired the Snobird Explorer design when it purchased the assets of the SnoBird Aircraft Company. Putting the Snobird design back into production, the company name was changed to Calumet Motorsports. The gyro design was later sold to another owner and then back to Calumet Motorsports, although the design remains out of production.^[2]

The Snobird Explorer was designed as a low-cost, entry-level autogyro, to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles, including the category's maximum empty weight of {{convert|254|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. The aircraft has a standard empty weight of {{convert|244|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. It features a single main rotor, a single-seat open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a twin-cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, single-ignition {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 447 engine in pusher configuration. Alternate engines used include the twin-cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 503 and the twin-cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, single-ignition {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} 2si 460-F40 engines.^[1]

The aircraft fuselage is made from a combination of composite material and aluminum and features a tall tail design to reduce engine-induced pitch. The kit was supplied with jig pre-drilled holes and was powder coated. Its two-bladed rotor has a diameter of {{convert|23.0|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}. Full fuel is {{convert|5|u.s.gal}}.^[1]

The standard day, sea level, no wind takeoff with a {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} engine is {{convert|100|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} and the landing roll is {{convert|20|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}.^[1]

Operational history

By 1998 the company reported that one aircraft had been completed and was flying, with customer deliveries to commence later in 1998.^[1]

In April 2015 six examples of Snobird autogyros of all manufacture were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration, although a total of 14 had been registered at one time.^[3]

Specifications (Snobird Explorer)

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Design and development

Operational history

Specifications (Snobird Explorer)

See also

References