Engineering:Velocity XL
| Velocity XL | |
|---|---|
| |
| Velocity XL with fixed-gear | |
| Role | Homebuilt aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Velocity, Inc. |
| Number built | 229 (December 2011) |
The Velocity XL (XL: Extra Large) is an American amateur-built aircraft, produced by Velocity, Inc. It is an enlarged version of their Velocity SE canard pusher design.[1][2]
Design and development
The Velocity XL is 12 in (310 mm) longer and has a 20 in (510 mm) greater span than the SE.[3] The standard XL has a cruising range of 875 nautical miles (1,620 km; 1,007 mi) and a 75% power cruising speed of 185 knots (213 mph; 343 km/h) air speed.[2][4][5]
The XL is available in both fixed gear (FG) and retractable gear (RG) form and can accommodate either three or four passengers plus a pilot. The five seat versions, the XL-5 and the TXL-RG-5, have a rear bench seat for three rather than the alternative separate pair of seats.[1][2][5][6]
Engines available as kits from the manufacturer for all models are the Lycoming IO-360 of 180 to 200 hp (134 to 149 kW), Lycoming IO-540 of 260 to 300 hp (194 to 224 kW), Continental IO-550 of 310 to 350 hp (231 to 261 kW) and the Franklin 6A350C1 of 205 to 235 hp (153 to 175 kW).[1][2][7] Builders may use these manufacturer kits or design their own engine installations using a variety of other engines of similar power output.
Variants
- Velocity XL-FG
- Fixed landing gear version with a gross weight of 2,700 lb (1,225 kg). Forty had been completed and flown by December 2011.[1]
- Velocity XL-FG-5
- Fixed landing gear version with a gross weight of 2,900 lb (1,315 kg). Twenty-one had been completed and flown by December 2011.[1]
- Velocity XL-RG
- Retractable landing gear version, with a gross weight of 2,700 lb (1,225 kg). 150 had been completed and flown by December 2011.[1]
- Velocity TXL-RG-5
- Retractable landing gear version, with gross weight of 2,900 lb (1,315 kg). Eighteen had been completed and flown by December 2011.[1]
- Velocity V-Twin
- Twin engine prototype, three built, powered by two Superior IO-320-A engines.[8]
Rocket Racers
The now-defunct Rocket Racing League utilized a highly modified Velocity XL FG airframe and an Armadillo Aerospace 2,500 pound thrust liquid oxygen (LOX) and ethanol rocket engine in both its Mark-II X-Racer and Mark-III X-Racer demonstration vehicles. The Mark-II utilized a standard fixed-gear Velocity XL airframe, modified for rocket propulsion. The Mark-III airframe was more extensively customized during manufacture, explicitly for rocket racing, with a canopy top, center seat and control stick and other enhancements, in addition to the rocket propulsion added to the Mark-II.[9]
Specifications (XL-RG)
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2013/14[3]
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Capacity: Three
- Length: 20 ft 0 in (6.10 m)
- Wingspan: 31 ft 0 in (9.45 m) rear wing; forewing 13 ft 8 in (4.17 m)
- Height: 8 ft 5 in (2.56 m)
- Wing area: 102 sq ft (9.5 m2) rear wing.
- Empty weight: 1,700 lb (771 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,701 lb (1,225 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 265 L (58 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Continental IO-550 air-cooled flat six, 310 hp (230 kW)
- Propellers: 3-bladed Catto
Performance
- Cruise speed: 240 mph (380 km/h, 210 kn) normal at 75% power
- Stall speed: 75 mph (121 km/h, 65 kn)
- Range: 1,150 mi (1,850 km, 1,000 nmi) at 65% power
- g limits: +9/-7
- Take-off run: 1,300 ft (396 m)
- Landing run: 1,500 ft (457 m)
See also
- Velocity SE
- Freedom Aviation Phoenix
- Rutan Long-EZ
- Rutan VariEze
- Rutan Defiant
- Berkut aircraft
- Cozy MK IV
- Raptor Aircraft Raptor
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 75. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 125. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jackson, Paul A. (2013). Jane's All the World's Aircraft : development & production : 2013-14. IHS Global. pp. 968–9. ISBN 978-0-7106-3040-7.
- ↑ Insite. "Velocity Aircraft". Velocity Aircraft. http://www.velocityaircraft.com/airplane-specifications.html.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Insite. "Velocity Aircraft". Velocity Aircraft. http://www.velocityaircraft.com/airplane-models-txl.html.
- ↑ Insite. "Velocity Aircraft". Velocity Aircraft. http://www.velocityaircraft.com/airplane-models-xl5.html.
- ↑ Velocity, Inc. (2016). "Engine Installation Kits". http://store.velocityaircraft.com/Model.aspx?Modelno=116&featureno=119.
- ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (29 June 2016). "N-Number Inquiry Results". http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=91VT.
- ↑ Rocket Racing League Announces Milestone Development in X-Racer , press release, 2010-03-10, accessed 2010-05-03.
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