| Snipe Diamond | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Front quarter view of the Snipe Diamond | |
| Role | Ultralight aircraft |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Snipe Aircraft Developments Ltd |
| Designer | Arthur Luff |
| First flight | 1985 |
| Number built | 1 |
The Diamond was a British single seat ultralight aircraft, developed by Arthur Luff in the 1980s. It was notable for its radical design.
Arthur Luff, a former Rolls Royce engineer and an RAF gliding instructor, designed a closed wing aircraft. [1] Originally called the Snipe, it was later termed the Diamond, in acknowledgement of the wings' configuration. [1] [2] The aircraft featured two wings, of equal span and chord, with the front wing swept back by 20° and the rear wing swept forward by 20°. The wings were joined at the wingtip, where tip rudders were located. The aircraft had a fully enclosed fuselage, and was equipped with a single engine, powering a tractor propeller, and had a tricycle undercarriage. The aircraft featured three-axis control, with pitch control being by elevators on the rear wing; roll control by ailerons located on the outboard wings; directional control by rudders incorporated into the wingtip fins.
The prototype made its maiden flight in 1985. [2] According to Flightline, in its issue dated July–August 1985, an order for 15 aircraft had been received from the Middle East. [1] Since 1985, no further news about the craft has appeared.
Data from Ultralight and Microlight Aircraft [2]
General characteristics
Performance
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