Role Ultralight trike
National origin United States
Manufacturer Spartan Microlights
Status Production completed
Number built 30 (February 2000)

The Spartan DFD Aerotome, or DFS Aerotome Dual, is an American two-seat ultralight trike that was designed and produced by Spartan Microlights.[1][2][3]

Design and development

The aircraft was designed as a US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules two-seat trainer. It features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its single surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 36 ft (11.0 m) span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame control bar. Unlike the Spartan DFS Trike the Aerotome uses only a trike delta wing and cannot be converted for powered parachute use.[1][3]

The standard engine supplied was the twin cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503, with a 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal) fuel tank. When in production it came with optional dual controls, aero-towing hardware, larger engines and 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal) fuel tank. Thirty had been completed and flown by February 2000.[1][2]

Specifications (Aerotome)

Data from Kitplanes[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 7 ft (2.1 m)
  • Wingspan: 36 ft (11 m)
  • Height: 7 ft (2.1 m)
  • Wing area: 190 sq ft (18 m2)
  • Empty weight: 248 lb (112 kg)
  • Gross weight: 750 lb (340 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal) standard
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 503 twin cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled aircraft engine, 50 hp (37 kW)

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 44 mph (71 km/h, 38 kn)
  • Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,600 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,500 ft/min (7.6 m/s)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page C-27. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
  2. 1 2 3 Downey, Julia: 2000 Trike and 'Chute Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 2, February 2000, page 48. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851
  3. 1 2 Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 111. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
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