Scaled Composites Triumph

Triumph
General information
TypeVery Light Jet demonstrator
National originUnited States of America
ManufacturerScaled Composites
Designer
Number built1
RegistrationN143SC
History
First flightJuly 12, 1988

The Scaled Composites Triumph[1] is a twin-engine, business jet prototype designed and built by Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites for Beechcraft. It was known officially as the Model 143, and internally at Scaled as the "Tuna". The aircraft is a three lifting surface design, with both a small canard, and a small conventional horizontal stabilizer in a T-tail configuration.

Design and development

Originally, three versions of the all-composite aircraft were envisioned, one powered by piston engines, one by turboprops and one by turbofans. The only one built was the turbofan version with engines mounted on top of the wings,[2] which was first aircraft to be powered by the Williams International FJ44 engine. The maiden flight took place at the Mojave Airport on July 12, 1988.

The flight test program was completed and confirmed the targeted performance. The financial situation of Beech at the time, and competing projects, prevented consideration of commercial production. In February 1991, Rutan stated, "it had the potential for enormous improvements in efficiency compared to the King Air. It was as fast as the Citation II, but had 60% better fuel economy."[3] After the test program was completed, the airframe was mounted on a pedestal at Scaled's Mojave facility for several years. The Triumph is currently on display in the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark[4] at Palmdale Plant 42.

Specifications

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1990–91[5]

General characteristics

  • Length: 39 ft 0 in (11.89 m)
  • Wingspan: 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m)
  • Height: 10 ft 11 in (3.32 m)
  • Wing area: 199.0 sq ft (18.49 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 11.55:1
  • Empty weight: 5,000 lb (2,268 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 9,000 lb (4,082 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Williams FJ44 turbofans, 1,800 lbf (8.0 kN) thrust each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 460 mph (740 km/h, 400 kn) at 35,000 ft (11,000 m)
  • Cruise speed: 390 mph (630 km/h, 340 kn)
  • Stall speed: 86 mph (139 km/h, 75 kn) (power off)
  • Range: 1,800 mi (3,000 km, 1,600 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 41,000 ft (12,000 m)
  • Rate of climb: 4,500 ft/min (23 m/s)

See also

Related lists

References

  1. ^ Scaled Composites Projects: Triumph. Retrieved May 1, 2012
  2. ^ Garrison, Peter. "The Unconventional Burt Rutan" Aviation History magazine, September 20, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  3. ^ Bailey, John (January 30, 1991), "Rutan on the Attack", Flight International, vol. 139, no. 4252, Reed Business Publishing, pp. 30–31, retrieved May 27, 2012
  4. ^ Joe Davies Heritage Airpark Archived 2015-10-29 at Archive-It Retrieved March 29, 2015
  5. ^ Lambert 1990, p. 496.
  • Lambert, Mark. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1990–91. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Defence Data, 1990. ISBN 0-7106-0908-6.
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34°36′11″N 118°05′19″W / 34.602989°N 118.088706°W / 34.602989; -118.088706