| AA200 Orion | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | light aircraft |
| National origin | USA |
| Manufacturer | Aerodis |
| Designer | |
| History | |
| First flight | April 7, 1991 [1] |
The Aerodis AA200 Orion is a four-seat prototype light aircraft designed in the United States and which first flew on April 7, 1991. [1] Aerodis commissioned the design with the intention of developing a family of related aircraft sharing a common basic airframe, [1] including the AA300 Rigel and AA330 Theta. Aerodis was also the American distributor for the Grinvalds Orion, a French light aircraft intended for homebuilding. Although the Aerodis Orion and Grinvalds Orion shared a same basic configuration and composite construction, the two aircraft were not further related, and the AA200 was an all-new design. [2] The designs are sometimes known as the CRSS AA200 Orion, CRSS AA300 Rigel, and CRSS AA330 Theta after the rights to the designs were sold to Indonesian manufacturer CRSS. [3]
The Orion is a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a T-tail, prominent ventral fin, and retractable, tricycle undercarriage. [2] It is powered by a mid-mounted piston engine driving a pusher propeller though a long driveshaft. [2] Construction throughout is of composite materials. [2] The enclosed cabin seats four people in 2+2 configuration.
Aerodis planned to use this design as the basis for a jet trainer aircraft, the AA300 Rigel, and a light tactical aircraft, the AA330 Theta. [2] In both these cases, the piston engine was to be replaced by a small turbofan, either the Garrett F109 or Williams FJ44, [2] and the cockpit was to be enclosed by a bubble canopy. [2] The Rigel was to seat pilot and instructor in tandem, while the Theta was to be a single-seat aircraft fitted with an ejector seat. [2] Aerodis presented both designs at the 1989 Paris Air Show. [4]
Two prototypes of the Rigel were under construction in 1991 for entry into the US Department of Defense Joint Primary Aircraft Training System competition, [2] [5] one to test each of the prospective powerplants. [5] Aerodis was unable to attract sufficient investment to complete the prototypes or continue development. [4]
Manufacturing of Aerodis designs was to have been carried out by Cipta Restu Sarana Svaha (CRSS) in Indonesia. [1] In 1991, Aerodis sold the whole program to CRSS. [6]
Data from Lambert 1991, p.337
General characteristics
Performance