Paxman Viper

Canadian homebuilt light aircraft

Viper

Role  | Homebuilt aircraft

Type of aircraft

National origin | Canada
Manufacturer  | Paxman's Northern Aircraft
Designer  | Elbert Paxman
Introduction  | 1994
Status  | Production completed
Number built | One

The Paxman Viper is a Canadian homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Elbert Paxman and produced by Paxman's Northern Aircraft of Glenwood, Alberta, introduced in 1994. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1]

## Design and development

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The Viper was designed for the Canadian advanced ultralight category. It features a cantilever low-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.[1][2]

The aircraft airframe is made from wood, covered in doped aircraft fabric. Its 27.00 ft (8.2 m) span wing has a wing area of 102.0 sq ft (9.48 m2). The acceptable power range is 65 to 110 hp (48 to 82 kW) and the standard engine used is a 100 hp (75 kW) Suzuki automotive conversion powerplant.[1]

The Viper has a typical empty weight of 585 lb (265 kg) and a gross weight of 1,050 lb (480 kg), giving a useful load of 465 lb (211 kg). With full fuel of 17 U.S. gallons (64 L; 14 imp gal) the payload for the pilot, passenger and baggage is 363 lb (165 kg).[1]

The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off with a 100 hp (75 kW) engine is 300 ft (91 m) and the landing roll is 400 ft (122 m).[1]

The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied kit as 500 hours.[1]

## Operational history

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By 1998 the company reported that one kit had been sold, was completed and flying.[1]

In January 2014 one example was registered with Transport Canada.[3]

## Specifications (Viper)

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Data from AeroCrafter[1]

General characteristics

* Crew: one
* Capacity: one passenger
* Length: 20 ft 6 in (6.25 m)
* Wingspan: 27 ft 0 in (8.23 m)
* Wing area: 102.0 sq ft (9.48 m2)
* Empty weight: 585 lb (265 kg)
* Gross weight: 1,050 lb (476 kg)
* Fuel capacity: 17 U.S. gallons (64 L; 14 imp gal)
* Powerplant: 1 × Suzuki four cylinder, liquid-cooled, four stroke automotive conversion engine, 100 hp (75 kW)
* Propellers: 3-bladed composite

Performance

* Maximum speed: 125 mph (201 km/h, 109 kn)
* Cruise speed: 110 mph (180 km/h, 96 kn)
* Stall speed: 38 mph (61 km/h, 33 kn)
* Rate of climb: 1,500 ft/min (7.6 m/s)
* Wing loading: 10.3 lb/sq ft (50 kg/m2)

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e f g h Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 218. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
2. ^ Transport Canada (30 December 2013). "Listing of Models Eligible to be Registered as Advanced Ultra-Light Aeroplanes (AULA)". Retrieved 25 January 2014.
3. ^ Transport Canada (25 January 2014). "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register". Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2014.

## External links

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* Photo of the prototype Viper on display at Oshkosh, 1996