Aeroprakt A-22

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A-22 Foxbat
The Aeroprakt A-22 Foxbat
Type	Sports Light Aircraft
Manufacturer	Aeroprakt
Designed by	Yuri Yakovlev
Introduced	2000
Status	In production as a kit plane
Primary users	Private aviators Flight schools
Produced	2000 to present
Unit cost	£38,152

The A-22 Foxbat, hangered at Bodmin Airfield, showing off the windows.

The Aeroprakt A-22 "Foxbat" is a two seater Ultralight made with pilot comfort in mind. In the USA the A-22 is refered to as a "Valor"^[1], while in the UK its refered to as the "Foxbat", as a nod towards its origin's. Visibility is excellent, due to the large amount of glazing, including concave doors, that allow the occupants to look straight. The A-22 uses a 3-axis control system, giving the pilot full control over the aircraft. To save on weight, and instead of separate ailerons and flaps, the A-22 combines them into a single flaperon. The wings are excellent generators of lift, giving a stall speed of 55Kmh (30Kt) with flaperons selected fully down. The wide undercarriage makes this machine just as stable in the ground.^[2]

1 Design
2 Background
3 Specifications of the A-22
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Design

The Aeroprakt A-22 is supplied either as "ready-to-fly" factory built aircraft, or as a kit, consisting of some 152 pieces. The Kit can be built single handedly in around 500 hours, except for a few jobs where an extra pair of hands would be invaluable. The kit comes with either the 80hp Rotax 912 or, the more powefull 100hp Rotax 912S. Originally the A-22 came fitted with a 40 litre inboard fuel tank behind the seats although later models have wing tanks holding 37.5 litres per side. The propellor is a 3-blade composite KievProp, which is ground adjustable and is also considered very quiet. Dual controls come as standard, with a single "Y" yoke being employed, allowing either pilot or passenger to control the aircraft. There is also the option of the slightly more expensive twin yoke control system. The A-22's structure is almost completely all-metal with only the engine cowling, wing fillets and wheel spats being made of composites. The wings and control surfaces are fabric covered.

[edit] Background

The Aeroprakt company, based in Kiev Ukraine, was founded in 1991. Appart from the A-22, Aeroprakt also designed the A-20, A-24, A-26 and the A-36, although, at this time, the A-26 is not in production, and the A-36 is currently still a prototype.^[3] Aeroprakt employ about 50 staff, consisting of highly qualified specialists, who have great work experience at other Ukrainian aircraft manufacturers, for example: Antonov ASTC, "Quazar" and "Tochelectropribor". Aeroprakt claim to have another 10 specialists working with the company on a contract basis At present the production facilities consist of 2000 square meters of floor space.

[edit] Specifications of the A-22

General characteristics

Crew: 1 pilot
Capacity: 1 passenger
Length: 6.3 m (22.66 foot)
Wingspan: 10 m (32.8 foot)
Height: 2.4 m (7.87 foot)
Wing area: 13.7 m² (147.465 foot²)
Empty weight: 260 kg (569 lbs)
Max takeoff weight: 450 kg (992 lbs)
Powerplant: 1× Rotax 912 or 912S flat-4 engine, 80 hp (or 100hp) 3 blade fixed propeller