Rutan Defiant

Defiant
Rutan Defiant
Role	Homebuilt aircraft
National origin	America
Manufacturer	Rutan Aircraft Factory
Designer	Burt Rutan
First flight	30 June 1978

The Rutan Model 40 Defiant is a four-seat, twin-engine aircraft with the engines in a push-pull configuration. It was designed by well-known aerospace engineer Burt Rutan for the Rutan Aircraft Factory.

Rutan Defiant N57KS.

Development

The prototype Defiant, N78RA, first flew on 30 June 1978. It was intended as a proof-of-concept of a very safe light twin design, requiring little trim change and no pilot action in case of engine failure, and with good single engine performance. A comparison of the Defiant single engine climb rate with a Grumman Cougar showed about 390 vs 280 ft/min at low altitude with both aircraft cleaned up. The prototype is now owned by the Hiller Aviation Museum.

In 1979 the Rutan Aircraft Factory announced they would proceed with certification of a Defiant-based light twin. Adequate financing was not secured for this project, and the design was modified for homebuilt construction as the Model 74, with the second aircraft (built by Fred Keller) appearing at Oshkosh 1983^[1]. Plans were offered in mid-1984. 100 sets of plans were purchaced before RAF discontinued selling plans in 1985.^[2] Nine examples were known to be flying as of mid-1987. Nineteen are registered with the FAA as of 2005.

Design

The Defiant is built using fiberglass layup over styrofoam core shapes in the same manner as the Rutan Vari-Eze. The main gear is fixed, and there are no flaps. The Propellers are fixed-pitch non-feathering, which is unusual in a twin-engine design. Cockpit entry is through a side hinged canopy.^[3] The winglets serve the primary purpose of providing yaw stability, and secondary puropose of reducing wing vorticies.^[4]

Specifications (Defiant)

General characteristics

• Crew: one, pilot
• Capacity: 3 passengers
• Length: 22.8 ft (6.95 m)
• Wingspan: 30 ft 9 in (9.4 m)
• Height: 9.33 ft ()
• Wing area: 139.4 ft² (12.95 m²)
• Empty weight: 1,701 lb (771.5 kg)
• Loaded weight: 2,997 lb (1,360 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 2,997 lb (1,360 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Lycoming O-320, 160 hp (119 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 188 kts (216 mph / 342 km/h)
• Range: 1,130 miles (1,808 km)
• Service ceiling: 18,000 ft (5,485 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,600 ft/min (488 m/min)

References

1. ^ "Doing the Defiant". Flying. January 1984. 
2. ^ Dan Linehan. Burt Rutan's Race to Space: The Magician of Mojave and His Flying Innovations. 
3. ^ "Doing the Defiant". Flying. January 1984. 
4. ^ "Defiant". Flying Magazine. December 1978. 

• Aerofiles information

External links