Aurore MB 02 Souricette
| MB 02 Souricette | |
|---|---|
| |
| French BL1E Souricette - Electra electric aircraft on its first flight in Dec, 2007 | |
| Role | Ultralight aircraft |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Aurore Sarl |
| Designer | Michel Barry |
| Status | In production |
| Variants | Aurore MB 02-2 Mini Bulle |
The Aurore MB 02 Souricette (English: Little Mouse) is a French ultralight aircraft, designed by Michel Barry and produced by Aurore Sarl of Sauvagnon. The aircraft is supplied as a kit or as plans for amateur construction.[1]
Design and development
The Souricette was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight rules and resembles an antique 1920s aircraft. The aircraft features a strut-braced shoulder-wing, a single-seat open cockpit, fixed conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.[1]
The aircraft is made from wood with its flying surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric. Its 9 m (29.5 ft) span wing employs single supporting struts. The standard recommended engine is the 18 hp (13 kW) JPX PUL 425 two-stroke powerplant. The aircraft was later developed into the more modern-looking Aurore MB 02-2 Mini Bulle.[1]
In 2011 the aircraft kit was €2,660 and plans sold for €150.[1]
The Souricette has also been flown as an all-electric aircraft. On Sunday, 23 December 2007, the Electravia team and the association APAME first flew its Souricette electric-powered open-cockpit airplane at Aspres sur Buech airfield, Hautes Alpes, France. This Souricette was a special BL1E model and called "Electra" for this occasion. Test pilot Christian Vandamme flew for 48 minutes, covering 50 km (31 mi). This aircraft is powered by an 18-kW (24 hp) electric engine driven by a 47 kg (104 lb) KOKAM Lithium polymer battery.[2][3][4]
Specifications (MB 02 Souricette)
Data from Bayerl[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Wingspan: 9 m (29 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 10.1 m2 (109 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 120 kg (265 lb)
- Gross weight: 200 kg (441 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 20 litres (4.4 imp gal; 5.3 US gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × JPX PUL 425 twin cylinder, horizontally-opposed air-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 19 kW (26 hp)
- Propellers: 2-bladed wooden
Performance
- Maximum speed: 140 km/h (87 mph, 76 kn)
- Cruise speed: 105 km/h (65 mph, 57 kn)
- Stall speed: 55 km/h (34 mph, 30 kn)
- Rate of climb: 1.5 m/s (300 ft/min)
References
- ^ a b c d e Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 28. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
- ^ Pew, Glenn (December 2007). "APAME Announces Electric Flight". Retrieved 2008-01-20.
- ^ APAME (December 2007). "Worldwide premiere: first aircraft flight with electrical engine". Retrieved 2008-01-20.
- ^ Article in The Times : Air travel switches to electricity
