SX-300 | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Role | Homebuilt aircraft |
National origin | United States |
Designer | Ed Swearingen |
First flight | July 1, 1984 |
Status | Kit production completed |
Produced | 1984-1989 |
Number built | about 45 |
The Swearingen SX-300 is a high-performance homebuilt aircraft, featuring two seats and developed by Ed Swearingen during the 1980s. [1]
The aircraft was offered as a kit, but this was not a comprehensive kit like contemporary designs, and its construction was beyond the abilities of the average amateur aircraft builder. [2] The airplane features a 300 horsepower (220 kW) six-cylinder engine.
Citing the lack of advancement in aircraft performance since the 1930s, Swearingen started a new company to develop faster light aircraft designs. The new design was intended to be developed as a kit aircraft initially and then later to be type certified, although certification was never completed. [3]
The aircraft was designed in 1983, first flown on July 1, 1984 and initially designated as the S29-300, for Swearingen, 29th design, 300 horsepower. The official company designation for the production kit aircraft is SX300, although some owners have registered them as SX-300 and SX 300. [3] [4]
The SX300 is fabricated from all-metal aluminum sheet, but with an emphasis on reducing aerodynamic drag. The wings are made from 0.040 in (1.02 mm) aluminum sheet, while the tail is 0.020 in (0.51 mm) sheet, with all metal joints butt-ended rather than overlapped and secured with countersunk rivets. The wing leading edge is stretch-formed over machine dies and then wrapped around the wing to achieve a smooth surface. The leading edge is reinforced with foam. The wing has a tapered planform, but with a straight leading edge. The fuselage has hydroformed structural members, with stringers and sheet metal covering. The wings have 3° of washout to improve the stall characteristics. The ailerons are differential and counter-weighted. The engine cowling is made from composite material and is based on Swearingen's design he employed in the Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche. The canopy is forward hinged and secured with six latches. The Lycoming IO-540 powerplant is mounted using a 7.25 in (18.42 cm) propeller extension and is offset 2° right and 1.5° down for P-factor effects. The fuel is contained in two wet wings and capacity is 30 U.S. gallons (110 L; 25 imp gal) per side. The tricycle landing gear is retractable rearwards and fuselage-mounted. The right hand main landing gear includes a retractable step. The aircraft is stressed for +6/-3 g. [3]
Kits went on sale in 1986 and ceased sales in 1989. The company indicated that production ended due to lack of progress in type certifying the design, but Apfelbaum indicates "the more likely reason is that a turboprop prototype shed its wings, leading to a fatal accident during a demonstration, which ultimately diminished the interest of the military." [3]
The kit was very difficult to construct, even for experienced builders and many were not completed. It is estimated that 80 to 90 kits were sold but only 48 sets of landing gear were made. About 45 SX-300s were actually completed and flown with about 30 reportedly still flying in 2023. [3]
In a 2023 review for AVweb, Johnathan and Julia Apfelbaum concluded, "the SX300 doesn’t just look like a thoroughbred rocket ship of an aircraft—it really is. We would have to say this aircraft is certainly one of Swearingen’s finest achievements." [3]
The design has had a high accident rate, with at least seven fatal accidents recorded by the US NTSB. At least five were also damaged in landing gear collapses due to failures of the landing gear main leg trunnions. [3]
General characteristics
Performance
Media related to Swearingen SX-300 at Wikimedia Commons
The Cessna 120,140, and 140A, are single-engine, two-seat, conventional landing gear (tailwheel), light general aviation aircraft that were first produced in 1946, immediately following the end of World War II. Production ended in 1951, and was succeeded in 1959 by the Cessna 150, a similar two-seat trainer which introduced tricycle gear. Combined production of the 120, 140, and 140A was 7,664 units in five years.
The Barrows Bearhawk, now also called the Barrows 4-Place Bearhawk, is an American amateur-built aircraft, designed by Bob Barrows and produced by R&B Aircraft of Fincastle, Virginia, AviPro Aircraft and now Bearhawk Aircraft of Austin, Texas. The aircraft is supplied as a kit or as plans for amateur construction.
The Van's Aircraft RV-10 is a four-seat, single-engine, low-wing homebuilt airplane sold in kit form by Van's Aircraft. It is the first four-seat airplane in the popular RV series. The RV-10 first flew on 29 May 2003, and the first kit parts were delivered to a customer in September 2003.
The Lancair ES is an American amateur-built aircraft that was designed and produced by Lancair. While it was in production the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.
The Lancair Legacy, a modernized version of the Lancair 320, is a low-wing two-place retractable-gear composite monoplane, manufactured by the American company Lancair. It is available as a kit that cost US$71,500 in 2011. There is also a fixed-gear version, the Legacy FG. The retractable version of the Legacy cruises at 276 mph at 8,000 ft and the fixed gear version cruises at 215 mph.
The Aero-Works Aerolite 103 is an American single seat, high-wing, pusher configuration ultralight aircraft, designed by Terry Raber and introduced by Aero-Works, Inc, of Millersburg, Ohio, in 1997. The aircraft's model number indicates that it was designed to comply with the Federal Aviation Administration FAR 103 ultralight rules.
The Fisher Celebrity is a Canadian two-seat, conventional landing gear, single engined, biplane kit aircraft designed for construction by amateur builders. Fisher Flying Products was originally based in Edgeley, North Dakota, United States but the company is now located in Dorchester, Ontario, Canada.
The Fisher Horizon is a family of Canadian two-seats-in-tandem, conventional landing gear, single-engined, high-wing monoplane kit aircraft designed for construction by amateur builders. The Horizon 1 was inspired by the Aeronca Champion and its later version, the Bellanca Citabria, while the Horizon 2 was inspired by the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog.
The CubCrafters CC11-160 Carbon Cub SS is an ASTM certified light-sport aircraft based on the Piper J-3 Cub manufactured by Cub Crafters. It is modernized, with light-weight carbon fiber components and a 180 hp (130 kW) engine.
The Bushcaddy L-160 is a Canadian kit aircraft that was designed by Jean Eudes Potvin and produced by Club Aeronautique Delisle Incorporated, Canadian Light Aircraft Sales and Service and most recently by Bushcaddy. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.
The Van's Aircraft RV-14 is an American aerobatic kit aircraft designed by Richard VanGrunsven and produced by Van's Aircraft. It was introduced at AirVenture in July 2012. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.
The Glasair GlaStar is an American amateur-built aircraft that was designed by Tom Hamilton and produced by Stoddard-Hamilton Aircraft and later Glasair Aviation. It was first flown in 1994 and was superseded in production by the Glasair Sportsman 2+2 c. 2005. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.
The Backcountry Super Cubs Mackey SQ2 is an American STOL amateur-built aircraft, designed and produced by Backcountry Super Cubs of Douglas, Wyoming. The aircraft is based upon the design of the Piper PA-18 Super Cub and is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.
The Explorer Ellipse is an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Dean Wilson and produced by Explorer Aviation of Grangeville, Idaho. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.
The Sea Storm is an Italian homebuilt amphibious flying boat that was designed and produced by Storm Aircraft of Sabaudia. Storm Aircraft was originally called SG Aviation srl. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.
The Stewart S-51D Mustang is an American aerobatic homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Jim Stewart and produced by Stewart 51 of Vero Beach, Florida, introduced in 1994. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.
The CubCrafters CC19 XCub is an American light aircraft, designed and produced by Cub Crafters of Yakima, Washington, introduced in June 2016. The aircraft is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.
The Rans S-21 Outbound is an American STOL homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Randy Schlitter and is produced by Rans Designs of Hays, Kansas. It was introduced at AirVenture in 2016. The aircraft is supplied as a quick-build kit for amateur construction or ready-to-fly.
The Murphy Yukon is a Canadian amateur-built aircraft, produced by Murphy Aircraft of Chilliwack, British Columbia, introduced at the AirVenture show in 2007. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.
The Bearhawk 5 is a five-to-six seat American amateur-built aircraft, designed by Bob Barrows and under development by Bearhawk Aircraft. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.