| Titan Tornado | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Tornado II | |
| Role | Kit aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Titan Aircraft |
| Introduction | 1994 |
| Status | In production |
| Produced | 1994–present |
| Developed from | Earthstar Thunder Gull J |
The Titan Tornado is large family of cantilever high-wing, pusher configuration, tricycle gear-equipped kit aircraft manufactured by Titan Aircraft of Austinburg, Ohio, for amateur construction. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]
The first in the Tornado series, the Tornado 103, which started development in 1990, was introduced in 1994 and designed to fit into the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles category, meeting the 254 lb (115 kg) empty weight limit. If equipped with a light enough engine the Tornado 103 could qualify as a US ultralight. [1] [3]
The Tornado borrows from the design of the Earthstar Thunder Gull J and shares a similar cantilever wing of small area, keeping stall speeds low by use of flaps. This low drag design manages high cross country speeds as a result. The cockpit is constructed from 4130 steel, while the fuselage boom tube and the wings are built from aluminium. Unlike the Gull's wing, which is aircraft fabric-covered or optionally finished in sheet aluminium, [12] the Tornado's wing is stressed skin. The Tornado has a tricycle undercarriage with a supplemental tailwheel castor, as the aircraft sits on its tail when unoccupied. [1] [3]
The Tornado 103 was named Ultralight Grand Champion at Sun 'n Fun 1994. [4]
Data from Cliche [1]
General characteristics
Performance
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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