Pipistrel Spider

The Pipistrel Spider is a Slovenian ultralight trike, designed and produced by Pipistrel of Ajdovščina. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1]

Spider
Role Ultralight trike
National origin Slovenia
Manufacturer Pipistrel
Introduction 1980s
Status Production complete (2018)
Produced 1980s - present
Number built 250 (1998)[1]

The Spider was sold in Europe by Flight Team UG & Company AG of Ippesheim, Germany and was sometimes called the Flight Team Spider.[2]

By October 2018 it was listed as a "legacy" product and production had ended.[3]

Design and development

The aircraft 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 cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit with an optional cockpit fairing, tricycle landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1]

The aircraft is made from composites and steel tubing, with its double surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. A number of different wings can be fitted to the basic carriage, but typical is a 10.50 m (34.4 ft) span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplant is a twin cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 or the twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine. The aircraft has an empty weight of 130 kg (287 lb) and a gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb), giving a useful load of 320 kg (705 lb). With full fuel of 42 litres (9.2 imp gal; 11 US gal) the payload is 290 kg (639 lb).[1][4]

The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off and landing roll with a 50 hp (37 kW) engine is 30 m (98 ft).[1]

The manufacturer estimates the construction time from the supplied kit as 150 hours.[1]

Operational history

By 1998 the company reported that 250 kits had been sold were flying.[1]

Specifications (Spider)

Data from Purdy[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Wingspan: 10.50 m (34 ft 5 in)
  • Empty weight: 129.75 kg (286 lb)
  • Gross weight: 450 kg (992 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 42 litres (9.2 imp gal; 11 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 503 twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 37 kW (50 hp)
  • Propellers: 4-bladed ground adjustable composite

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 179 km/h (111 mph, 96 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 121 km/h (75 mph, 65 kn)
  • Stall speed: 55 km/h (34 mph, 30 kn)
  • Range: 500 km (310 mi, 270 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 6,700 m (22,000 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 5.00 m/s (984 ft/min)

References
  1. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 222. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  2. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 211. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. "Pipistrel Aircraft Spider - Pipistrel". www.pipistrel.si. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  4. "Pipistrel Aircraft Spider Technical Data". Pipistrel.si. Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
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