Aeroprakt A-22 Foxbat

A-22 Foxbat
Role Sports Light Aircraft
National origin Ukraine
Manufacturer Aeroprakt
Designer Yuri Yakovlev
First flight 21 October 1996
Introduction 1999
Status In production
Produced 2000-present
Variants Aeroprakt A-32 Vixxen
The A-22 Foxbat, showing its unique window arrangement
A-22 Foxbat
A-22 Foxbat
A-22 Foxbat

The Aeroprakt A-22 Foxbat is a Ukrainian two-seat, high-wing, tricycle landing gear ultralight aircraft that was designed by Yuri Yakovlev and is manufactured by Aeroprakt. In the United States the A-22 is referred to as the Valor,[1] while in the UK and Australia it is called the Foxbat. It has also been marketed as the Vision.[2][3][4] The Aeroprakt A-22 is supplied either as "ready-to-fly" factory built aircraft, or as a kit,[2] consisting of 152 pieces. The kit can be built in about 500 man-hours.

The A-22 meets the definition of an FAI microlight.[2][3]

History

Design and development

Aeroprakt of Kiev began design of the A-22 in February 1990, with the first prototype making its maiden flight on 21 October 1996, and a German-certified version entering production in 1999.[5]

The A-22's structure is almost completely metal with the engine cowling, wing fillets and wheel spats made of composites. The wings and control surfaces are fabric covered. The aircraft has excellent visibility, due to the large amount of glazing, including convex doors, that allow the occupants to look straight down. The A-22 uses a 3-axis control system, giving the pilot full control over the aircraft. The A-22 uses flaperons in place of ailerons and flaps, giving a stall speed of 52 km/h (32 mph) with the flaperons fully down.[2][6]

The kit comes with either the 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912UL or optionally the 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS. The 85 hp (63 kW) Jabiru 2200 can also be fitted.[2][3]

Originally the A-22 came fitted with a 40-litre inboard fuel tank behind the seats, although later models have wing tanks holding 37.5 litres per side. The propeller is a 3-blade composite ground adjustable KievProp. Dual controls are standard, using a single central "Y" yoke or optionally twin yoke control system.

Military usage

As of April 2024, the Ukrainian military have converted the A-22 into a kamikaze drone.[7][8] At least one has been used in the drone hunting role targeting small fixed wing drones with a passenger armed with a Malyuk rifle.[9] On 6 November 2024 an A-22 drone reportedly struck and damaged three ships of the Caspian Flotilla in the Kaspiysk naval base 1,100 kilometres (700 miles) from the front line in Ukraine.[10][11]

Variants

A-22L2
Ultralight version built in Ukraine with a maximum takeoff mass of 472.5 kg (1,042 lb) for the landplane [12], also available as a seaplane.[4]
A-22LS
Light-sport version for the American market with a higher maximum takeoff mass of 600 kg (1,323 lb)[12]

Specifications (A-22 Valor, Rotax 912 ULS engine)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004[5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 6.3 m (20 ft 8 in)
  • Wingspan: 10.1 m (33 ft 2 in)
  • Height: 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in)
  • Wing area: 13.7 m2 (147 sq ft)
  • Airfoil: TsAGI P-IIIA-15[13]
  • Empty weight: 260 kg (573 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 450 kg (992 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912ULS 4-cylinder air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine, 73.5 kW (98.6 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed Aeroprakt ground-adjustable propeller, 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) diameter

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 170 km/h (110 mph, 92 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 160 km/h (99 mph, 86 kn)
  • Stall speed: 55 km/h (34 mph, 30 kn)
  • Range: 1,100 km (680 mi, 590 nmi) with maximum fuel
  • Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
  • g limits: +4/-2
  • Rate of climb: 5 m/s (980 ft/min)
  • Power/mass: 0.166 kW/kg (0.101 hp/lb)
  • Take-off run: 90 m (295 ft)
  • Landing run: 90 m (295 ft)

References

  1. ^ "Aeroprakt A-22 / Valor / Foxbat / Sharik / FPNA Capetown". all-aero.com. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e Bayerl, Robby; Berkemeier, Martin; et al. (2011). "World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12". World Directory of Light Aviation. Lancaster: WDLA UK: 20. ISSN 1368-485X.
  3. ^ a b c Bertrand, Noel; Coulon, Rene; et al. (2003). "Aeroprakt A-22". World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04. Lancaster OK: Pagefast Ltd.: 118. ISSN 1368-485X.
  4. ^ a b Tacke, Willi; Boric, Marino; et al. (2015). "Aeroprakt A-22". World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16. Flying Pages Europe SARL: 17. ISSN 1368-485X.
  5. ^ a b Jackson, Paul, ed. (2003). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2003-04 (94th ed.). Coulsdon, Surrey, United Kingdom: Jane's Information Group. pp. 464–465. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.
  6. ^ "Welcome to Foxbat UK". foxbataircraft. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  7. ^ Axe, David. "Ukraine's New Factory-Smashing Drone Is A $90,000 Sport Plane With A Robot At The Controls". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  8. ^ Balmforth, Tom. "Small uncrewed Ukrainian plane likely used in attack deep inside Russia - experts". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  9. ^ Newdick, Thomas (8 July 2024). "Ultralight Drone Hunting Planes Now In Use In Ukraine". The War Zone. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  10. ^ Axe, David (2024-11-13). "A Ukrainian Drone Motored 700 Miles And Blasted Three Russian Warships In One Blow". forbes.com. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  11. ^ @Gerashchenko_en (November 6, 2024). "Reports appeard that two warships were hit in Russian Kaspiysk. The "Tatarstan" and "Dagestan" missile ships were reportedly damaged in a drone strike on the Caspian Fleet in Dagestan. Small missile ships of Project 21631 Buyan-M were also damaged" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. ^ a b Aeroprakt-22 "aeroprakt.de". Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  13. ^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aeroprakt A-22.