WLT Sparrow

Design and development

The Sparrow is largely built from carbon fibre. Its wing has a short span rectangular section between the tail-booms and straight-tapered outer panels with angled tips. There are short ailerons with flaps between them and the twin slender booms. Each boom carries an angled, straight edged fin and rudder; the tailplane, with a one-piece elevator fitted with an offset trim tab, is mounted on top of the fins.

The Sparrow's fuselage has a smooth profile partly defined by multipanel glazing that extends almost from the nose back beyond the wing leading edge. Access to both of the tandem seats is via a wide port-side door. The aircraft is normally flown from the front; the rear seat, placed over the leading edge, can also be provided with controls and instrumentation for an instructor (the Trainer version) or, as on the Clubman, be a passenger position. A 48 kW (64 hp) Rotax 582 two stroke, two cylinder, liquid-cooled, in-line engine with small cheek radiators is situated immediately behind the cabin in pusher configuration, driving a three-blade propeller just beyond the central trailing edge. A ballistic recovery parachute is an option. The Sparrow has a fixed tricycle undercarriage; all three wheels have speed fairings and the main wheels have faired legs under the wings, raked back from the forward ends of the booms.

The Sparrow first flew on 24 August 2010 and production started in 2012. It achieved Czech certification on 1 March 2013 and by the summer of that year six had been built. French certification was obtained in January 2014 and it appeared on public display for the first time at the AERO Friedrichshafen show in 2014. The display example is a later version powered by a 59.6 kW (80 hp) Rotax 912 ULS flat-four, air- and liquid-cooled engine.

Variants

Sparrow ML Clubman

Controls and instruments for front seat only.

Sparrow ML Trainer

Dual controls and instruments. 12 kg (26 lb) heavier than the Clubman.

Specifications (Clubman)

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

General characteristics

Crew: one pilot

Capacity: one passenger

Length: 7.00 m (23 ft 0 in)

Wingspan: 9.16 m (30 ft 1 in)

Height: 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)

Wing area: 11.62 m² (125.1 sq ft)

Empty weight: 270 kg (595 lb)

Max takeoff weight: 450 kg (992 lb)

Fuel capacity: 40 kg (88 lb)

Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 582 water-cooled two cylinder in-line, pusher configuration, 48 kW (64 hp)

Propellers: 3-bladed Woodcomp Klassic 170/3, 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) diameter composite, with ground adjustable pitch

Performance

Maximum speed: 180 km/h (112 mph; 97 kn)

Cruise speed: 140 km/h (87 mph; 76 kn)

Stall speed: 55 km/h (34 mph; 30 kn) flaps down

Rate of climb: 4.2 m/s (830 ft/min) at sea level

Take-off distance to clear 15 m (50 ft): 210 m (689 ft)

Landing distance from 15 m (50 ft): 210 m (689 ft)