Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Flywhale Aircraft Flywhale

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Wingspan
  
9 m

Manufacturer
  
Flywhale Aircraft

Length
  
6.45 m

The Flywhale Aircraft Flywhale is a two-seat amphibious sports aircraft designed and built in Germany by Flywhale Aircraft.

Contents

Design and development

The Flywhale, built mainly from composite materials, is a flying boat style amphibian, with a single step hull and sponsons rather than wing tip floats. It accommodates two in side-by-side seating fitted with dual control. The design also provides room for two people to sleep in the fuselage. A large, one-piece canopy hinges forward for access and there are separate, removable side windows. Behind the seats is a baggage area. The Flywhale has short-legged, tricycle landing gear with mainwheels retracting backwards into the sponsons. It can operate on land, water and snow-civered surfaces.

Its high cantilever wings are trapezoidal in plan and can be removed for transport. Its empennage is cruciform, with the horizontal tail part-way up a triangular fin and rudder. A 54.8 kW (73.5 hp) Rotax 912 ULS flat-four engine is mounted on a necked pylon over the wing in tractor configuration. This originally drove a two blade propeller but more recently a three-bladed one has replaced it. A BRS ballistic parachute is an option.

The Flywhale flew for the first time on 13 September 2013. A second airframe has been completed, including modifications suggested by the flight trials of the first, and this flew in the summer of 2015.

Variants

Adventure
Standard version as in Specifications
Expedition
Fuel capacity increased to 170 l (37 imp gal; 45 US gal) with tanks in sponsons, extending endurance to 10 hr 0 min and range to 2,000 km (1,200 mi). Both seats recline. Fresh water storage in sponsons.

Specifications (Adventure)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2015-16

General characteristics

  • Crew: One pilot
  • Capacity: One passenger
  • Length: 6.45 m (21 ft 2 in)
  • Wingspan: 9.00 m (29 ft 6 in)
  • Height: 2.35 m (7 ft 9 in)
  • Empty weight: 315 kg (694 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 495 kg (1,091 lb) without rescue parachute
  • Fuel capacity: 110 l (24 imp gal; 29 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912 ULS flat-four, 73.5 kW (98.6 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed , variable pitch
  • Performance

  • Cruise speed: 200 km/h (124 mph; 108 kn)
  • Stall speed: 65 km/h (40 mph; 35 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 264 km/h (164 mph; 143 kn)
  • Endurance: 6 hr 0 min
  • g limits: +4/-2
  • References

    Flywhale Aircraft Flywhale Wikipedia


    Similar Topics