Stits SA-7 Sky-Coupe
| Stits SA-7 Skycoupe | |
|---|---|
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| |
| Role | Homebuilt aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Stits Aircraft |
| Designer | Ray Stits, Harold Dale |
| First flight | 1957 |
| Introduction | 1957 |
The Stits SA-7 Skycoupe is a two-seat, side-by-side seating, high wing homebuilt aircraft designed by Ray Stits.[1]
Design[edit]
Ray Stits designed 14 different homebuilt aircraft kits that were some of the first available to the general public built in quantity.[2] Stits is also known to the general public as the maker of the Stits Junior, Stits SA-2A Sky Baby,[3] and Stits Baby Bird, each of which was once the world's smallest aircraft.[4] Engineer Harold Dale assisted in the certification process after completing his Dale Weejet 800.[5]
The Skycoupe was provided as a kit with a pre-fabricated steel tube fuselage. The surfaces are fabric covered. The aircraft was designed to accommodate engines ranging from 60 to 90 hp (45 to 67 kW).
Variants[edit]
- SA-7A
- SA-7B
- Powered by a Continental C85
- SA-7C
- SA-7D
- Updated with a squared off swept tail configuration.
- SA-9A
- A type certificated version.
Specifications Stits SA-7B Sky-Coupe[edit]
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1961–62[6]
General characteristics
- Capacity: 2
- Length: 17 ft 9 in (5.41 m)
- Wingspan: 25 ft 9 in (7.85 m)
- Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
- Wing area: 120 sq ft (11 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 5:1
- Airfoil: NACA 4412
- Empty weight: 650 lb (295 kg)
- Gross weight: 1,175 lb (533 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 18 US gal (15 imp gal; 68 L)
- Powerplant: 1 × Continental C85 air-cooled flat-four, 85 hp (63 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 120 kn (138 mph, 222 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 100 kn (115 mph, 185 km/h)
- Stall speed: 42 kn (48 mph, 77 km/h)
- Range: 350 nmi (400 mi, 640 km)
- Service ceiling: 12,000 ft (3,700 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)
See also[edit]
Related development
References[edit]
- ^ Leo J. Kohn (Feb 1957). "The Latest in the Stits Line". Experimenter.
- ^ "Students Restore Sky Coupe". Archived from the original on 22 November 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
- ^ Hearst Magazines (September 1952). "Seven Foot Airplane Flies 150 Miles Per Hour". Popular Mechanics. Hearst Magazines. p. 117.
- ^ "Ray Stits". Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
- ^ Trefethen, Joan (May 1959). "The 'Weejet'". Sport Aviation: 4–5.
- ^ Taylor 1961, p. 326
- Taylor, John W. R. (1961). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1961–62. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.