Silence Twister

Last updated
Twister 1100
Twister at Old Warden.jpg
Silence Twister on display at Old Warden airfield
RoleSingle-seat ultralight homebuilt monoplane
National originGermany
Manufacturer Silence Aircraft
First flight30 September 2000
StatusIn production (2013)
Number built21 (2011)
Developed fromTechnically not developed from, but inspired by the Supermarine Spitfire

The Silence Twister is a German ultralight designed by Silence Aircraft for amateur construction, either from plans or kits. [1] The prototype first flew on 30 September 2000. [2]

Contents

Design and development

The Twister is a single-seat low-wing monoplane with elliptical wings and tailplane. It has a retractable conventional landing gear with a fixed tailwheel. [2] The design drew inspiration from the Supermarine Spitfire, and the shapes of the Twister's wings, fin and tailplane all recall the famous World War II fighter. Designed to take engines up to 94 hp (70 kW), the prototype was fitted with a 53.6 hp (40 kW) single-rotor MidWest Wankel engine. This compact rotary motor allowed a sleek engine cowling, but the engine was rejected and production aircraft use 85 hp (63 kW) Jabiru 2200 or 95 hp (71 kW) ULPower UL260i engines. [2] [3] [4]

An electric aircraft version was under development in 2010. [3]

Propeller

The Twister prototype was fitted with Silence Aircraft's own automatic variable-pitch propeller called the "VProp". The LAA have yet to allow the VProp to be fitted on UK aircraft, so UK Twisters have fixed-blade propellers instead. [5]

Operational history

Twenty-one examples had been completed and flown by December 2011. [1]

Variants

SA155
Initial prototype powered by a 34 kW (45 hp) MidWest AE50 Wankel rotary engine. The second prototype was powered by a 34 kW (45 hp) Diamond AE50 engine. [2]
SA180
powered by a 60 kW (80 hp) Jabiru 2200 engine. [2]
Akron
A version developed for the US market under Experimental aircraft certification rules. [2]

Specifications (Prototype)

Data fromJane's All the World's Aircraft 2004-05. [6]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Vandermeullen, Richard (December 2011). "2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide". Kitplanes. Belvoir Publications. 28 (12): 63. ISSN   0891-1851.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jackson, Paul, ed. (2003). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2003-2004. Coulsdon, Surrey, United Kingdom: Jane's Information Group. pp. 189–190. ISBN   0-7106-2537-5.
  3. 1 2 Bayerl, Robby; Berkemeier, Martin; et al. (2011). World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12. Lancaster UK: WDLA UK. p. 75.
  4. ↑ Tacke, Willi; TBoric, Marino; et al. (2015). "World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16". World Directory of Light Aviation. Flying Pages Europe SARL: 125. ISSN   1368-485X.
  5. ↑ "ENGINES AND PROPELLERS FITTED TO LAA AIRCRAFT" (PDF). The Light Aircraft Association. The Light Aircraft Association. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  6. ↑ Jackson, Paul, ed. (2005). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 2004-05. London: Jane's Publishing Group. pp. 189–190. ISBN   0-7106-2614-2.
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