Cyclone AX2000

AX2000
A HKS 700E powered AX2000
Role	microlight
Manufacturer	Cyclone Airsports Ltd
First flight	c.1997
Number built	at least 29
Developed from	Cyclone AX3

The Cyclone AX2000 is a British built three axis microlight, first flown in the 1990s. It seats two in side-by-side configuration.

Design and development

The AX2000 is a development of the earlier Cyclone AX3,^[1] a UK regulation compliant variant of the French Ultralair Premier AX3. This, in turn, was a three axis development of the US Chotia Weedhopper from the early 1980s.^[2]

The Cyclone AX2000 is an aluminium tube framed three axis microlight with flying surfaces covered with a polyester fabric with outer PVF lamination (URLAM). The whole aircraft is built around a long, high aluminium keel boom, which bears the engine, wings and empennage. The wing is a two spar structure, with surfaces formed by upper and lower battens rather than ribs. It carries conventional, full span, tapering ailerons but no flaps.^[1] The tailplane is mounted on the keel and has an anti-balance/trim tab on the starboard elevator.^[1][3] There is a small fixed fin below the keel but none above; the rudder is balanced and extends below the elevators, moving in a cut-out.^[3]

The short, deep fuselage is built around a wire braced tube beam. Lift and landing loads are taken by V-shaped, cross braced pairs of lift struts from the bottom of the fuselage to each wing, assisted by a centre line strut to the boom at the wing leading edge. The cockpit enclosure is non-structural, with forward opening doors to a pair of side-by-side seats. These are equipped with separate rudder pedals but the occupants share a central control column. The AX2000 has a a tricycle undercarriage mounted close to the fuselage.^[1]

The engine is mounted, uncowled, ahead and above the wing leading edge, with the propeller shaft on the boom line. One of three engines may be fitted: a 48 kW (64 hp) Rotax 582/48 or 38 kW (50 hp) 503 2V, both upright twin cylinder two strokes, or the 45 kW (60 hp) HKS 700E (either V3 or Beta variants), flat twin four stroke.^[3] Both Rotax engines drive propellers with ground adjustable pitch: the 582 has a three blade, composite propeller and the 503 a two blade wooden one.^[1]

As well the new engines, the AX2000 differs chiefly from the AX3 in having a completely double surface wing of reduced area and modified structure, a change of alloy for the main keel beam, a revised and lightened fuselage with new undercarriage, an increased fuel capacity and the addition of an elevator anti-balance trim tab.^[1]

The AX2000 is certificated as a glider tug, for gliders of class 1 and 2. A V-shaped forward tow line extension joins the main line to a pair of tug pillars attached to the rear spar on the under surfaces of the AX2000's wing.^[1]

Operational history

In mid 2011 there were 29 AX2000s on the UK civil aircraft register.^[4]

Specifications

Data from Civil Aircraft Authority microlight type approval data sheet (TADS) no.BM53 issue 9^[3]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 5.60 m (18 ft 4 in)
• Wingspan: 9.10 m (29 ft 10 in)
• Height: 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in)
• Wing area: 15.77 m² (169.7 sq ft) ^[1]
• Empty weight: 201 kg (443 lb) notional
• Max takeoff weight: 450 kg (992 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 62 L

Performance

• Maximum speed: 100 km/h; 54 kn (62 mph) manoeuvring
• Stall speed: 58 km/h; 31 kn (36 mph)
• Never exceed speed: 140 km/h; 78 kn (90 mph)

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} "CAA airworthiness approval note - Cyclone AX2000". http://ulav8r.com/PDF%20files/25727020000.pdf. Retrieved 2011-08-23. 
2. ^ "CAA airworthiness approval note - Cyclone AX3". http://www.caa.co.uk/aandocs/23042/23042020000.pdf. Retrieved 2011-08-23. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d} "CAA TADS for Cyclone AX2000". http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/1419/BM53I09.pdf. Retrieved 2011-08-22. 
4. ^ "CAA registrations of Cyclone AX2000". http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=summary&aircrafttype=CYCLONE%20AX2000. Retrieved 2011-08-24.