Skyrider Sonic

German ultralight trike

Sonic

Role  | Ultralight trike

Type of aircraft

National origin | Germany
Manufacturer  | Skyrider Flugschule
Status  | In production (2011)

The Skyrider Sonic is a German ultralight trike, designed and produced by Skyrider Flugschule. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1]

## Design and development

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The Sonic was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, including the category's maximum gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb). The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb). It features a strut-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1]

The aircraft is made from square welded stainless steel tubing, with its double surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 9.8 m (32.2 ft) span Hazard 12 wing is supported by struts and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplant is a four stroke turbocharged 85 hp (63 kW) Smart Car automotive conversion engine or, optionally, a twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 aircraft engine.[1]

With the Smart car engine the Sonic has an empty weight of 165 kg (364 lb) and a gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb), giving a useful load of 285 kg (628 lb). With full fuel of 60 litres (13 imp gal; 16 US gal) the payload is 221 kg (487 lb).[1]

The Sonic's trike structure is also incorporated in the Ramphos Trident amphibious trike.[1]

## Specifications (Sonic)

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Data from Bayerl[1]

General characteristics

* Crew: one
* Capacity: one passenger
* Wingspan: 9.8 m (32 ft 2 in)
* Wing area: 12 m2 (130 sq ft)
* Empty weight: 165 kg (364 lb)
* Gross weight: 450 kg (992 lb)
* Fuel capacity: 60 litres (13 imp gal; 16 US gal)
* Powerplant: 1 × Smart Car turbocharged, four stroke automotive engine, 63 kW (85 hp)
* Propellers: 3-bladed composite

Performance

* Maximum speed: 160 km/h (99 mph, 86 kn)
* Cruise speed: 125 km/h (78 mph, 67 kn)
* Stall speed: 55 km/h (34 mph, 30 kn)
* Rate of climb: 7.5 m/s (1,480 ft/min)
* Wing loading: 37.5 kg/m2 (7.7 lb/sq ft)

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e f Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, pages 220 and 221. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X

## External links

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* Official website
* Photo of the Skyrider Sonic

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Skyrider Flugschule aircraft

Ultralight trikes|

* Sonic
* Stingray

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