DAR Solo

Solo
Role Ultralight aircraft
National origin Bulgaria
Manufacturer Aeroplanes DAR
Designer Tony Ilieff
First flight August 2008
Status In production
Produced 2008-present

The DAR Solo is a Bulgarian ultralight aircraft, designed by Tony Ilieff and produced by Aeroplanes DAR, first flying in August 2008.[1][2]

The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1][3]

Design and development

The aircraft was designed to comply with the US FAR Part 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules as well as the German 120 kg class (called the Solo 120) and deregulated 115 kg class in the United Kingdom. It features a strut-braced high wing, a single-seat open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.[1][3]

The aircraft is built with a composite fuselage and an aluminum wing. Its 8.97 m (29.4 ft) span wing has flaperons and employs a single strut on each side supported by an optional jury strut. The standard engines used when the type was introduced were the 28 hp (21 kW) Hirth F33 and the 50 hp (37 kW) Hirth F23 two-stroke powerplants.[1][3]

The design offers combinations of three types of wings, three types of engines and four types of wheels.[1]

Specifications (Solo)

DAR Solo 120 powered by the Polini Thor 250 DS powerplant

Data from Bayerl[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wingspan: 8.97 m (29 ft 5 in)
  • Wing area: 10.76 m2 (115.8 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 115 kg (254 lb)
  • Gross weight: 220 kg (485 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 12 litres (2.6 imp gal; 3.2 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Hirth F33 single cylinder, air-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 21 kW (28 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 130 km/h (81 mph, 70 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 100 km/h (62 mph, 54 kn)
  • Stall speed: 44.8 km/h (27.8 mph, 24.2 kn)
  • Rate of climb: 3 m/s (590 ft/min)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 17. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. ^ Aeroplanes DAR (2014). "Company History". Archived from the original on 10 August 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 20. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
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