Oz Little Wing

[okikuma]

Anyone know the builder/owner of this Australian registered Little Wing Autogyro G5024?

I'd like to know the empty weight, gross weight, rotor diameter, blade manufacture, version of Rotax 912, fuel capacity, and if the external belly tank is permanent or removable.

Thanks everyone.

Wayne

 

[wolfy]

It's owned by Kevin Traeger in south Australia, 80hp 912, AK rotors.

wolfy

 

[okikuma]

Thank you Wolfy. That answers two items of the multi-part question.

Wayne

 

[wolfy]

I could ask Kevin for the other details if you really need them. He doesn't come on here.

wolfy

 

[okikuma]

Please do Wolfy. I am very interested and here's why.

I don't doubt Ron Herron's listed weights on his website for the various models of Little Wing Autogyros.

Little Wing Autogyro General Specifications

• Empty Weight:
  • (Single-Place)
    • 351 lbs. w/Rotax 582-618, 2Si 540-L(two-stroke powered)
    • 452 lbs. w/ 2180 VW (four-stroke powered)
  • (Two-Place)
    • 451 lbs. w/ Hirth F-30 (two-stroke powered)
    • 520 lbs. w/ Rotax 914 (four-stroke powered)
• Gross Weight:
  • 750 lbs. Single-Place
  • 1100 lbs. 2-Place.
• Fuel Capacity:
  • 8.5 US gal. (single-place)
  • 13.5 US gal. (2-place

Designers often build their prototypes as light as possible. The aircraft are very basic and only with minimum equipment as required to meet VFR day regulations.

The amateur built aircraft from plans are often heavier than the designer's prototypes because of added equipment and personalization. Those heavier weights are more of what one would expect if they built their own LIttle Wing.

Thanks Wolfy.

Wayne

 

[wolfy]

Sorry not AK rotor's they are Ricks Rotors 27'
EW 242 kg
Mtow 480 kg
Top tank 25L
Belly tank 65L (not sure if it's removable)
Cruise 70 kn
2 seat.

It's also for sale.

wolfy

 

[okikuma]

Thank you Wolfy.

After converting the metric to U.S. customary standard of measurements:

Empty weight 242 Kg = 532.4 lb
Gross Weight 480 Kg = 1056 lb
25 Liters = 6.6 Gallons
65 Liters = 17.2 Gallons

One can see that Kevin's Little Wing is not much heavier than Ron Herron has listed for a 2-place Little Wing. Very much within reason especially, if one considers the added weight of an empty external belly tank as part of the increase of empty weight.

With a Gross Weight of 1056 lb and a 27' diameter (Rotor Disk Area = 572.6 sq ft), the Disk Load = 1.84 lb/sq ft.

The only slight drawback would be with 80 hp. The power to weight ratio would be 13.2 lb/hp, whereas 100 hp would give 10.6 lb/hp. For relative area of flat terrain that is of low altitude (above MLS), 80 hp would suffice if one plan to fly more than 2,000 ft AGL.

Wayne