Stits SA-7 Sky-Coupe
| Stits SA-7 Skycoupe | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Role | Homebuilt aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Stits Aircraft |
| Designer | Ray Stits, Harold Dale |
| First flight | 1957 |
| Introduction | 1957 |
| Unit cost |
approximately $2700 to build in 1971[1] |
The Stits SA-7 Skycoupe is a two seat, side-by-side seating, high wing homebuilt aircraft designed by Ray Stits.[2]
Design
Ray Stits designed 14 different homebuilt aircraft kits that were some of the first available to the general public built in quantity.[3] Stits is also known to the general public as the maker of the Stits Junior, Stits SA-2A Sky Baby,[4] and Stits Baby Bird, each of which was once the world's smallest aircraft.[5] Engineer Harold Dale assisted in the certification process after completing his Dale Weejet 800.[6]
The Skycoupe was provided as a kit with a pre-fabricated steel tube fuselage. The surfaces are fabric covered. The aircraft was designed to accommodate engines ranging from 60 to 90 hp (45 to 67 kW).
Variants
- SA-7A
- SA-7B
- Powered by a Continental C85
- SA-7C
- SA-7D
- Updated with a squared off swept tail configuration.
- SA-9A
- A type certificated version.
Specifications Stits SA-7 Skycoupe
Data from Experimenter
General characteristics
- Capacity: 2
- Length: 17 ft 9 in (5.41 m)
- Wingspan: 24 ft 4 in (7.42 m)
- Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
- Wing area: 120 sq ft (11 m2)
- Empty weight: 600 lb (272 kg)
- Gross weight: 1,080 lb (490 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 17 US gallons (64 litres)
- Powerplant: 1 × Continental A65 , 65 hp (48 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 87 kn; 161 km/h (100 mph)
- Cruise speed: 78 kn; 145 km/h (90 mph)
- Stall speed: 30 kn; 56 km/h (35 mph)
- Service ceiling: 12,000 ft (3,700 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)
- Wing loading: 9 lb/sq ft (44 kg/m2)
See also
- Related development
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stits SA-7 Skycoupe. |
- ↑ Leo J. Kohn (Winter 1971). "The true cost of building your own plane". Air Trails: 63.
- ↑ Leo J. Kohn (Feb 1957). "The Latest in the Stits Line". experimenter.
- ↑ "Students Restore Sky Coupe". Retrieved 27 December 2010.
- ↑ "Seven Foot Airplane Flies 150 Miles Per Hour." Popular Mechanics, September 1952, p. 117.
- ↑ "Ray Stits". Retrieved 27 December 2010.
- ↑ Sport Aviation. May 1959. Missing or empty
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