Schönleber Vento

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Vento
Role Ultralight trike
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Schönleber Metallbau GbR
Status In production (2015)

The Schönleber Vento (transl. Wind) is a German ultralight trike designed and produced by Schönleber Metallbau GbR of Schönaich and formerly located in Regensburg. The aircraft is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.[1]

Design and development[edit]

The company has been producing ultralight trikes since the 1990s, mostly to supply local customers and without advertising. The company's main business is metal fabrication.[1]

The Vento 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 400 kg (882 lb).[1]

The aircraft design features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit with an optional cockpit fairing, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its double surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 9.5 m (31.2 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, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine, equipped with a 4:1 belt reduction drive to reduce the aircraft's noise signature.[1]

The aircraft has an empty weight of 160 kg (353 lb) and a gross weight of 400 kg (882 lb), giving a useful load of 240 kg (529 lb). With full fuel of 60 litres (13 imp gal; 16 US gal) the payload is 197 kg (434 lb).[1]

A number of different wings can be fitted to the basic carriage, including a special wing for hang glider towing.[1]

Specifications (Vento)[edit]

Data from Tacke[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Wingspan: 9.5 m (31 ft 2 in)
  • Wing area: 13 m2 (140 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 160 kg (353 lb)
  • Gross weight: 400 kg (882 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 60 litres (13 imp gal; 16 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 582 twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, equipped with a 4:1 belt reduction drive, 48 kW (64 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed composite

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 120 km/h (75 mph, 65 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 95 km/h (59 mph, 51 kn)
  • Stall speed: 50 km/h (31 mph, 27 kn)
  • Rate of climb: 3.2 m/s (630 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 30.8 kg/m2 (6.3 lb/sq ft)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 239. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X