FLS Sprint

infobox Aircraft
name = FLS Sprint 160
type = Sports plane
manufacturer = FLS Aerospace, Trago Mills



caption = Sprint 160 G-OAGI, Seen at LAA Flyin at Bodmin Airfield on 3rd May 2008
designer = Sydney A. Holloway
first flight = 23 August avyear|1983
number built = 5 (3 completed) (2 Club Sprint)

The FLS Sprint is a light aircraft developed in the United Kingdom in the 1980s, originally known as the Trago Mills SAH-1. It was produced by FLS aerospace in two versions, the Club Sprint, and the Sprint 160. In both versions, it is a low wing, two seat, monoplane designed as an advanced aerobatic trainer with +6/-3 g capability. [FLS Sprint 160 Pilot's Handbook - Description] The aircraft is a fully aerobatic trainer similar to the Grob G 115 or the Slingsby Firefly, although it is of conventional riveted aluminium constructuion rather than the composite construction of the other two aircraft. The Sprint is considered to be, although very similar in design to the Grob and the Slingsby, a much nicer aircraft to fly. AFC Bedford, BAe Dunsfold's Ex. Chief Test Pilot said of the Sprint, 'It has made a great impression upon me and I am absolutely convinced that it is the best modern trainer yet produced. The Tiger-Moth of the 21st Centuary.' [Trago Mills Independent Market reasearch for SAH-1]

Development

The Sprint was originally designed by Sydney A. Holloway while he was working for the British Department Store chain Trago Mills, which hoped to market it to Britain's armed forces as a replacement for the ageing Scottish Aviation Bulldog. The original aircraft was designated the SAH-1 in honour of Mr. Holloway. The production and design of the 120hp SAH-1 (now the FLS Club Sprint) was undertaken at Bodmin Airfield. The Prototype first flew with Vice Air Marshal Geoffrey Cairns at the controls on 23 of August 1983. Two years later, on the 12 December 1985, the SAH-1 gained its type certificate, and the fate of the SAH-1 was looking good. In 1987, the plans were sold onto Orca Aircraft. Unfortunately, the slump in the world's economy, meant that general aviation was on the decrease, which left Orca Aircraft bankrupt in 1989. The plans for the SAH-1 again changed hands, this time to FLS Aerospace

FLS Aerospace began modifying the basic SAH-1 and came up with two models, the Club Sprint, essentially the original SAH-1 and the Sprint 160, a re-engined Club Sprint, with a 160hp aerobatic Lycoming and a Hoffman constant speed prop. [Peter London: "Images of aviation In Cornish Skies" page 114] FLS got as far as building a first run of 5 of these aircraft between 1993 and 1998 (of which 3 are complete and airworthy in 2008 [ [http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=search CAA- G-INFO Search Database] ] - the others are in storage) while negotiating a building contract. However before the Sprint could be produced FLS went bankrupt and the Sprint program was put into storage.

In 2006, the design was sold again, this time to The British Light Aircraft Company Ltd. who subsequently had to sell the design (along with the Edgley Optica survaillance aircraft). The two designs were bought in 2007 by John Edgley, the Optica's designer. The Sprint is planned to be manufactured as a kit aircraft for the British Homebuilder's Market. [ [http://www.aeroelvira.co.uk/ Aero Elvira (Design Owners) - www.aeroelvira.co.uk] ]

Variants

* SAH-1 - Trago Mills prototype with Avco Lycoming O-235-L2A engine (1 built, registered G-SAHI)
* Club Sprint - FLS production version of SAH-1 (1 built, plus one incomplete in storage)
* Sprint 160 - FLS version with Textron Lycoming AEIO-320-D1B engine (1 built, plus two incomplete in storage)

Specifications (Sprint 160)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=Orca Aircraft SAH-1 Pilot's Operating Handbookcite book | title = Orca Aircraft SAH-1 Pilot's Handbook | year = 1985 ]
ref=FLS Sprint 160 Pilot's Operating Handbookcite book | title = FLS Sprint 160 Pilot's Handbook | year = 2007 ]
crew=2
length main= 22 ft
length alt= 6.7 m
span main= 30 ft 8 in
span alt= 9.36 m
height main= 7 ft 8 in
height alt= 2.33 m
area main=
area alt=
airfoil=
empty weight main= 1,425 lb
empty weight alt= 650 kg
aerobatic weight main= 1920 lb
aerobatic weight alt= 871 kg
max takeoff weight main= 2,050 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 930 kg
more general=
engine (prop)=Textron Lycoming AEIO-320-D1B
type of prop= 4-cylinder horizontally-opposed engine
number of props=1
power main= 160 hp
power original=
max speed main= 140 knots
max speed alt= 175mph, 259 km/h
cruise speed main= 126 knots
cruise speed alt= 145 mph, 233 km/h
never exceed speed main= 181 knots
never exceed speed alt= 208mph, 335 km/h
stall speed main= 50 knots
stall speed alt= 58 mph, 92 km/h
stall speed more= (with flaps)
range main= 500 nm
range alt= 575 mi, 926 km
ceiling main= 10,000 ft (Club Sprint)
ceiling alt= 5,790 m
climb rate main= 1,000 ft/min
climb rate alt= 5.2 m/s
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

References

* [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=759 Picture and technical specifications of SAH-1]