Ventura 1200

Last updated
Ventura 1200
Role Ultralight trike
National origin France
Manufacturer Ventura
Status Prototypes only
Number built probably only one
Unit cost
€29,610 (projected price, 2011)

The Ventura 1200 was a proposed French ultralight trike that was designed by Ventura of La Frette, Isère. The aircraft was intended to be supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft and was announced at Blois 2007. It was shown again at Blois 2011, but it is likely only prototypes were produced before the company went out of business. [1] [2]

France Republic with mainland in Europe and numerous oversea territories

France, officially the French Republic, is a country whose territory consists of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories. The metropolitan area of France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. It is bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany to the northeast, Switzerland and Italy to the east, and Andorra and Spain to the south. The overseas territories include French Guiana in South America and several islands in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. The country's 18 integral regions span a combined area of 643,801 square kilometres (248,573 sq mi) and a total population of 67.3 million. France, a sovereign state, is a unitary semi-presidential republic with its capital in Paris, the country's largest city and main cultural and commercial centre. Other major urban areas include Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lille and Nice.

Ultralight trike powered hang glider with a Rogallo wing and a three-wheeled undercarriage

An ultralight trike is a type of powered hang glider where flight control is by weight-shift. These aircraft have a fabric flex-wing from which is suspended a tricycle fuselage pod driven by a pusher propeller. The pod accommodates either a solo pilot, or a pilot and a single passenger. Trikes grant affordable, accessible and exciting flying, and have been popular since the 1980s.

La Frette, Isère Commune in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

La Frette is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France.

Contents

Design and development

The Ventura 1200 was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, including the category's maximum gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb). The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb). It features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit with an integral cockpit fairing, tricycle landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in pusher configuration. [1]

<i>Fédération Aéronautique Internationale</i> voluntary association

The Fédération aéronautique internationale, is the world governing body for air sports, and also stewards definitions regarding human spaceflight. It was founded on 14 October 1905, and is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. It maintains world records for aeronautical activities including ballooning, aeromodeling, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), as well as flights into space.

Tandem arrangement in which people, machines, or animals are in line behind one another facing forward

Tandem, or in tandem, is an arrangement in which a team of machines, animals or people are lined up one behind another, all facing in the same direction.

Tricycle landing gear aircraft undercarriage arranged with main gear under the wing or fuselage and a third set under the nose

Tricycle gear is a type of aircraft undercarriage, or landing gear, arranged in a tricycle fashion. The tricycle arrangement has a single nose wheel in the front, and two or more main wheels slightly aft of the center of gravity. Tricycle gear aircraft are the easiest to take-off, land and taxi, and consequently the configuration is the most widely used on aircraft.

The prototype's fuselage was made from composites, with its double surface Air Creation iXess wing made from aluminum tubing and covered in Dacron sailcloth. The 10 m (32.8 ft) span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplant is a twin cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke, dual-ignition 100 hp (75 kW) BMW R1200 motorcycle engine that was specially modified by the French engine specialty company Sodemo Moteurs. The propeller is driven via an in-house developed reduction drive. [1] [2]

Fuselage aircraft main body which is the primary carrier of crew, passengers, and payload

The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section. It holds crew, passengers, and cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, as well, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage, which in turn is used as a floating hull. The fuselage also serves to position control and stabilization surfaces in specific relationships to lifting surfaces, which is required for aircraft stability and maneuverability.

Air Creation iXess ultralight trike by Air Creation

The Air Creation iXess is a French double-surface ultralight trike wing, designed and produced by Air Creation of Aubenas. The wing is widely used on Air Creation trikes, as well as those of other manufacturers.

Motorcycle engine

A motorcycle engine is an engine that powers a motorcycle. Motorcycle engines are typically two-stroke or four-stroke internal combustion engines, but other engine types, such as Wankels and electric motors, have been used.

The prototype has an empty weight of 245 kg (540 lb) and a gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb), giving a useful load of 205 kg (452 lb). [1]

Specifications (Ventura 1200)

Data from Bayerl [1]

General characteristics

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 145 km/h (90 mph; 78 kn)
  • Stall speed: 65 km/h (40 mph; 35 kn)
  • Rate of climb: 7.5 m/s (1,480 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 30.0 kg/m2 (6.1 lb/sq ft)

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 224. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN   1368-485X
  2. 1 2 Boric, Marino (8 September 2011). "Blois 2011 - French ultralight fly-in celebrates 31 years" . Retrieved 22 September 2013.
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