AX2000 | |
---|---|
A HKS 700E powered AX2000 | |
Role | microlight |
National origin | United Kingdom |
Manufacturer | Cyclone Airsports Ltd |
First flight | c.1997 |
Number built | at least 29 |
Developed from | Cyclone AX3 |
The Cyclone AX2000 is a British built three axis microlight, first flown in the 1990s. It seats two in side-by-side configuration.
The AX2000 is a development of the earlier Cyclone AX3, [1] a UK regulation compliant variant of the French Ultralair Premier AX3. This, in turn, was a three axis development of the US Chotia Weedhopper from the early 1980s. [2]
The Cyclone AX2000 is an aluminium tube framed three axis microlight with flying surfaces covered with a polyester fabric with outer PVF lamination (URLAM). The whole aircraft is built around a long, high aluminium keel boom, which bears the engine, wings and empennage. The wing is a two spar structure, with surfaces formed by upper and lower battens rather than ribs. It carries conventional, full span, tapering ailerons but no flaps. [1] The tailplane is mounted on the keel and has an anti-balance/trim tab on the starboard elevator. [1] [3] There is a small fixed fin below the keel but none above; the rudder is balanced and extends below the elevators, moving in a cut-out. [3]
The short, deep fuselage is built around a wire braced tube beam. Lift and landing loads are taken by V-shaped, cross braced pairs of lift struts from the bottom of the fuselage to each wing, assisted by a centre line strut to the boom at the wing leading edge. The cockpit enclosure is non-structural, with forward opening doors to a pair of side-by-side seats. These are equipped with separate rudder pedals but the occupants share a central control column. The AX2000 has a tricycle undercarriage mounted close to the fuselage. [1]
The engine is mounted, uncowled, ahead and above the wing leading edge, with the propeller shaft on the boom line. One of three engines may be fitted: a 48 kW (64 hp) Rotax 582/48 or 38 kW (51 hp) 503 2V, both upright twin cylinder two strokes, or the 45 kW (60 hp) HKS 700E (either V3 or Beta variants), flat twin four stroke. [3] Both Rotax engines drive propellers with ground adjustable pitch: the 582 has a three blade, composite propeller and the 503 a two blade wooden one. [1]
As well the new engines, the AX2000 differs chiefly from the AX3 in having a completely double surface wing of reduced area and modified structure, a change of alloy for the main keel beam, a revised and lightened fuselage with new undercarriage, an increased fuel capacity and the addition of an elevator anti-balance trim tab. [1]
The AX2000 is certificated as a glider tug, for gliders of class 1 and 2. A V-shaped forward tow line extension joins the main line to a pair of tug pillars attached to the rear spar on the under surfaces of the AX2000's wing. [1]
In mid-2011 there were 29 AX2000s on the UK civil aircraft register. [4]
Data from Civil Aircraft Authority microlight type approval data sheet (TADS) no.BM53 issue 9 [3]
General characteristics
Performance
AX2000 | |
---|---|
A HKS 700E powered AX2000 | |
Role | microlight |
National origin | United Kingdom |
Manufacturer | Cyclone Airsports Ltd |
First flight | c.1997 |
Number built | at least 29 |
Developed from | Cyclone AX3 |
The Cyclone AX2000 is a British built three axis microlight, first flown in the 1990s. It seats two in side-by-side configuration.
The AX2000 is a development of the earlier Cyclone AX3, [1] a UK regulation compliant variant of the French Ultralair Premier AX3. This, in turn, was a three axis development of the US Chotia Weedhopper from the early 1980s. [2]
The Cyclone AX2000 is an aluminium tube framed three axis microlight with flying surfaces covered with a polyester fabric with outer PVF lamination (URLAM). The whole aircraft is built around a long, high aluminium keel boom, which bears the engine, wings and empennage. The wing is a two spar structure, with surfaces formed by upper and lower battens rather than ribs. It carries conventional, full span, tapering ailerons but no flaps. [1] The tailplane is mounted on the keel and has an anti-balance/trim tab on the starboard elevator. [1] [3] There is a small fixed fin below the keel but none above; the rudder is balanced and extends below the elevators, moving in a cut-out. [3]
The short, deep fuselage is built around a wire braced tube beam. Lift and landing loads are taken by V-shaped, cross braced pairs of lift struts from the bottom of the fuselage to each wing, assisted by a centre line strut to the boom at the wing leading edge. The cockpit enclosure is non-structural, with forward opening doors to a pair of side-by-side seats. These are equipped with separate rudder pedals but the occupants share a central control column. The AX2000 has a tricycle undercarriage mounted close to the fuselage. [1]
The engine is mounted, uncowled, ahead and above the wing leading edge, with the propeller shaft on the boom line. One of three engines may be fitted: a 48 kW (64 hp) Rotax 582/48 or 38 kW (51 hp) 503 2V, both upright twin cylinder two strokes, or the 45 kW (60 hp) HKS 700E (either V3 or Beta variants), flat twin four stroke. [3] Both Rotax engines drive propellers with ground adjustable pitch: the 582 has a three blade, composite propeller and the 503 a two blade wooden one. [1]
As well the new engines, the AX2000 differs chiefly from the AX3 in having a completely double surface wing of reduced area and modified structure, a change of alloy for the main keel beam, a revised and lightened fuselage with new undercarriage, an increased fuel capacity and the addition of an elevator anti-balance trim tab. [1]
The AX2000 is certificated as a glider tug, for gliders of class 1 and 2. A V-shaped forward tow line extension joins the main line to a pair of tug pillars attached to the rear spar on the under surfaces of the AX2000's wing. [1]
In mid-2011 there were 29 AX2000s on the UK civil aircraft register. [4]
Data from Civil Aircraft Authority microlight type approval data sheet (TADS) no.BM53 issue 9 [3]
General characteristics
Performance