Neha Patil (Editor)

Sorrell Hiperbipe

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Introduced
  
1973

Manufacturer
  
Sorrell Hiperbipe Sorrell Hiperbipe SNS7 Untitled Aviation Photo 1876961

The Sorrell SNS-7 Hiperbipe is a two-seat, negative stagger, conventional landing gear-equipped cabin biplane designed for amateur construction that was produced in kit form by Sorrell Aviation of Tenino, Washington.

Contents

Sorrell Hiperbipe Sorrell Hiperbipe SNS7 Untitled Aviation Photo 2065931

Design and development

Sorrell Hiperbipe Sorrell Hiperbipe SNS7 Untitled Aviation Photo 1303211

The SNS-7 (Sorrell Negative Stagger, Model 7) was intended to give full unlimited aerobatic performance without sacrificing the comforts of a cabin-style aircraft.

Sorrell Hiperbipe Sorrell Hiperbipe SNS7 Untitled Aviation Photo 2065931

The Sorrell family originated from the state of Oregon, which was the last state to ban homebuilt aircraft. Hobie Sorrell petitioned congress for experimental aircraft regulations, and his son Tim designed the Hiperbipe in a series of family designed homebuilt aircraft. The design is of mixed construction. The fuselage, tail, engine mount, landing gear mounts, interplane struts and flight controls are all built from welded 4130 steel. The wings are made from wood, with wooden stressed skin. The landing gear is sprung steel tube. The engine cowling and wheel pants are fibreglass. The whole airframe is covered in doped aircraft fabric, including the plywood-covered wings. The airfoil is a custom symmetrical design.

The SNS-7 is capable of advanced aerobatics, including vertical eight point rolls and inside and outside vertical eights.

The Hiperbipe kit has been out of production since the 1980s.

Operational history

Sorrell Hiperbipe Sorrell SNS7 Hiperbipe Specifications A photo

In April 2010 there were 22 Hiperbipes registered in the USA, two in Canada and one in the UK.

Specifications (SNS-7)

Data from Plane & Pilot and Pilot Friend

General characteristics

Sorrell Hiperbipe httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 20 ft 10 in (6.35 m)
  • Wingspan: 22 ft 10 in (6.96 m)
  • Height: 5 ft 10.75 in (1.7971 m)
  • Wing area: 150 sq ft (14 m2)
  • Airfoil: Symmetrical Sorrell design
  • Empty weight: 1,236 lb (561 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,911 lb (867 kg) utility1 category, 1690 lbs (766 kg) aerobatic
  • Fuel capacity: 227 lbs
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming IO-360-B1E four cylinder, four stroke, piston aircraft engine, 180 hp (130 kW)
  • Performance

    Sorrell Hiperbipe FileSorrell Hiperbipejpg Wikimedia Commons

  • Maximum speed: 225 mph (362 km/h; 196 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 160 mph (257 km/h; 139 kn)
  • Stall speed: 49 mph (79 km/h; 43 kn)
  • Range: 502 mi (436 nmi; 808 km)
  • Service ceiling: 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
  • Wing loading: 12.74 lb/sq ft (62.2 kg/m2)
  • Power/mass: 10.62 lb/hp
  • References

    Sorrell Hiperbipe Wikipedia