The aircraft is named for the feathered Archaeopteryx dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic Period in what is now Europe.
Design and development
The Archaeopteryx was conceived as a foot-launchable[4] microlift sailplane, with the design goals of a light empty weight, low stall speed with gentle stall characteristics, good maneuverability and good high speed performance. A further goal was a sailplane that could be foot-launched in zero wind conditions.[2]
The Archaeopteryx design started in 1998 at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) as a research project. The first flight of the initial prototype was in September 2001. Based on initial lessons the prototype was modified and reflown in May 2002. Further flight tests and modifications were carried out, with the prototype re-flying in its new form in March 2003. The production prototype design was started in 2006 and completed in 2009. The first series production started in the summer of 2009 and production deliveries to customers commenced in May 2010. As of September 2023, 38[1] aircraft had been delivered to customers in Australia, Argentina, Germany, France, Austria, USA, Canada and Switzerland. Most are using the electrical propulsion.
Archaeopteryx standard version, Mollis, June 2011View from inside Archaeopteryx during flightArchaeopteryx comparisonArchaeopteryx with factory electrical motorArchaeopteryx electrical motor and propeller detail
The controls are conventional, with a stick for ailerons and elevator and rudder pedals. The aircraft uses flaps for glidepath control, which function as airbrakes when set to 45-70 degrees. A ballistic parachute with an area of 62m2 (670sqft) is also fitted. The aircraft can be rigged for flight by one person in 15 minutes. It has been launched by foot, aero-tow,[5]bungee launch,[6]auto-tow[7] and winch-launch. Typically take-off and landing are on the main wheel. For foot launch, the bottom cover is opened to stick the legs out. A foot landing has been performed to achieve the FAA class 2 certification.
The aircraft can accommodate pilots from 165 to 195cm (65 to 77in) in height and 55 to 100kg (121 to 220lb).[8]
The company further developed a prototype equipped with two electric motors to provide self-launch capability. This prototype did not have satisfactory performance, and a single electric motor version was developed instead. This electric propulsion was introduced in mid-2014 to allow self-launching. Takeoff roll distance is 50m (160ft) and rate of climb when fully charged is 2.5m/s (8.2ft/s). It can run at full power for 11 minutes on one charge. The electrical motor uses 10.5kW at 3800rpm, and the propeller delivers 370N when flying at 75km/h. Storage is a 14s1p lithium polymer battery (Kokam) with 40Ah capacity, delivering 2.07kWh, maximum 58.8V and maximum continuous current of 200amps.[9]
Variants
Archaeopteryx Standard
Basic design without cockpit fairing
Archaeopteryx Performance
Basic design, with cockpit fairing; no longer in production
Archaeopteryx Race
Basic design, with cockpit fairing and windshield
Archaeopteryx Electric "Electeryx"
Race version with electrical propulsion
Specifications (Standard)
Data from Sailplane Directory, company website and flight manual[2][8][9]
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