- Lockwood Drifter
-
Drifter 
1999 model Tiger Aviation Drifter SB Role Kit aircraft National origin United States Manufacturer Lockwood Aircraft Status Kits in production Number built 1500 Variants Lockwood Aircam
Sport Flight Talon
Advanced Aviation ExplorerThe Lockwood Drifter is a family of high wing, single engine, pusher configuration, open cockpit, one and two-seat kit aircraft that was first introduced in the 1980s by Maxair and remains in production today by Lockwood Aircraft of Sebring, Florida.[1][2][3][4][5]
Contents
Development
The Drifter was first marketed by Maxair in the 1980s as both a single seat and two seats-in-tandem kitplane. The original single seater was light enough when fitted with the 28 hp (21 kW) Rotax 277 engine to qualify for the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles category, with an empty weight of 240 lb (109 kg).[1]
After Maxair went out of business, the design was picked up in 1997 by Lockwood Aircraft who produced kits for a number of single and two-seat versions, mostly differing by installed engine. The Lockwood versions are all wire-braced using a kingpost to support the ground wires. Over 1000 wire-braced Drifters have been completed and flown.[1][2][3][4][5]
The aircraft was also adapted and redesigned by Austflight ULA of Boonah, Queensland, Australia, as the Drifter SB, indicating that it is "Strut Braced" instead of wire braced. The Drifter SB was sold in the USA in the 1990s by Tiger Aviation of Trenton, South Carolina. Over 500 strut braced Drifters were completed and flown.[2]
Lockwood estimates that a builder will take 300 hours to complete a Super Drifter from the currently supplied kit.[5]
Design
Avid Aviation's Austflight A503 being used for flying training at Dalby, Queensland, Australia.
All models of the Drifter are built around an aluminum tube keel, with aluminum tubing making up the keel-to-wing structure. There is no enclosed fuselage; the seats are open to the air. The conventional landing gear includes a steerable tailwheel. Most Drifter kits were delivered with a small fibreglass nose fairing.[1]
The wing is built from aluminum tubing and covered with pre-sewn Dacron sailcloth envelopes. Controls are conventional three-axis, with dual controls and center-mounted control sticks. Lockwood offers optional flaps as part of its STOL kit. The single seat Drifter and XP503 are both stressed for +6/-3g.[1]
With its large wing area the Drifter adapted well to floats and was fitted with several types, including Full Lotus floats. The glide ratio is 9:1.[1][2]
Operational history
Drifters have been widely used in a number of roles, including recreational flying, agricultural spraying, aerial photography, flight training and banner towing, during which many Drifters have accumulated high numbers of flying hours, leading one reviewer to note: "its long track record has revealed no weakness in the Drifter"[1]. A number of Lockwood XP503s have been reported to have exceeded 3000 hours and one Drifter used for banner towing exceeded 10,000 flight hours.[1][2]
In reviewing the Drifter, Andre Cliche said:
“ The outstanding aspect of the Drifter is its totally unobstructed view. The pilot sits on the boom tube with all the hardware behind him. This gives the impression of free flight. It is like you are flying a chair. The Drifter has other qualities of course. Its forgiving handling, mechanical simplicity, ease of maintenance and solid airframe all contributed to the Drifter’s good reputation. [1] ” Variants
- Maxair Drifter
- Single seat, wire braced, equipped with 28 hp (21 kW) Rotax 277 engine, 500 lb (227 kg) gross weight.[1]
- Maxair Drifter DR447
- Single seat, wire braced, equipped with 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447 engine, 785 lb (356 kg) gross weight. Intended for float use.[1]
- Maxair Drifter XP503
- Two seats in tandem, wire braced, equipped with 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 engine, 785 lb (356 kg) gross weight.[1]
- Lockwood Drifter DR447
- Single seat, wire braced, equipped with 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447 engine, 785 lb (356 kg) gross weight.[2]
- Lockwood Drifter XP503
- Two seats in tandem, wire braced, equipped with 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 engine, 785 lb (356 kg) gross weight.[2]
- Lockwood Drifter MU582
- Two seats in tandem, wire braced, equipped with 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine, 900 lb (408 kg) gross weight. Intended for float and agricultural use.[2]
- Lockwood Super Drifter
- Two seats in tandem, wire braced, equipped with 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912 engine, 1,000 lb (454 kg) gross weight. Intended for amphibious float use.[3][4][5]
- Tiger Aviation Drifter SB
- Two seats in tandem, strut braced, equipped with the 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine or optionally the 80 hp (60 kW) Jabiru 2200 engine, 1,100 lb (499 kg) gross weight. 500 reported as flying.[2]
Specifications (Super Drifter)
Data from Lockwood Aircraft & Kitplanes[3][4][5]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Length: 22 ft 0 in (6.71 m)
- Wingspan: 30 ft 0 in (9.15 m)
- Height: 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m)
- Wing area: 160 sq ft (14.88 sq m)
- Empty weight: 495 lbs (224 kg)
- Useful load: 505 lbs (229 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 1000 lbs (454 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912 UL four stroke piston engine, 80 hp (60 kW)
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 85 mph (138 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 75 mph (122 km/h)
- Stall speed: 34 mph (55 km/h)
- Range: 230 sm (373 km)
- Rate of climb: 1000 fpm (5.08 m/s)
- Wing loading: 6.25 lb/sq ft (30.51 kg/sq m)
- Power/mass: 12.5 lb/hp (0.13 kW/kg)
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Aero-Works Aerolite 103
- Airdrome Dream Classic
- Avid Champion
- Beaujon Mach .07
- Beaujon Enduro
- Birdman WT-11 Chinook
- CGS Hawk
- Freebird II
- Hummel Bird
- ISON Airbike
- Skystar Kitfox Lite
- Spectrum RX-28 Beaver
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, pages B-15 & B-74. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, pages 201 & 273. BAI Communications. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
- ^ a b c d Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 72. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- ^ a b c d Downey, Julia: 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 60. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- ^ a b c d e Lockwood Aircraft Corp (2007). "Super Drifter". http://www.lockwoodaircraft.com/Drifter.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
External links
Lockwood Aircraft Aircraft Aircam · DrifterLists relating to aviation General Aircraft (manufacturers) · Aircraft engines (manufacturers) · Airlines (defunct) · Airports · Civil authorities · Museums · Registration prefixes · Rotorcraft (manufacturers) · TimelineMilitary Accidents/incidents Records Categories:- United States ultralight aircraft 1980–1989
- Pusher aircraft
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