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ISSUE
51 - January 2009
Over 7,000 Total Ads Listed
1,000 NEW Ads Per Week
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LIONHEART - A WORK
OF ART |
By R. Blake Mathis,
Contributing Editor & Photographer
Huntsville, Alabama |
Designed as a kit plane, the first
prototype of Griffon Aerospace’s Lionheart flew in
1997. Since then, kits have been ordered, built and flown
over the years. Unfortunately, the Lionheart is currently
out of production; however, one currently resides just east
of Huntsville, Alabama, at Moontown Airport (3M5). Strolling
around Lionheart takes you back to the 1930s because you
can see the Beech Staggerwing design reborn in its new sleek,
narrow wing, composite, cantilever design.
Inspired by the Beech Staggerwing from the 1930s, the Lionheart
is a work of art as well as a fined-tuned composite carbon
fiber machine. Chosen to power this modern version of the
staggered biplane configuration is the venerable Pratt & Whitney
R-985 Wasp Junior radial engine. The R-985 was baselined
for the design as a plentiful, reliable and low-cost horsepower/dollar
power plant that ultimately inspired the overall Lionheart
configuration.
Besides being a smooth, composite aircraft, another recognizable
difference between the Lionheart and the Staggerwing is that
both of the Lionheart’s wings are cantilevered, requiring
no struts or wires, which gives an overall classy, smooth
look to this modern rebuild. Additionally, for improved performance,
the Lionheart uses modern laminar flow airfoils. Lastly,
through the use of modern composite materials, the Lionheart’s
empty weight is close to the Staggerwing, but its payload
capacity is over 1,000 pounds more than the original.
Though the Piper Malibu was used
as the design goal for cabin space, the Lionheart is much
wider at the shoulders. With an empty weight of about 3,200
pounds, Lionheart was originally designed to accommodate
six full-size, FAA 170-pound passengers. With initial structure
testing with a gross weight of 4,200 pounds, the plane’s
loaded limits were +6, -3 Gs. Gross weight was later increased
to 5,200 pounds with load limits of +4.4,-2.2Gs (Utility
Category).
Dual control sticks make it easy for a pilot or co-pilot
to command the aircraft. With fully retractable conventional
(taildragger) landing gear that hide during flight for
an overall clean look, along with the 450 horsepower radial
engine, the cruise speed of 210 mph is easily accomplished
for long flights. If you are ever around when Lionheart
does a high-speed pass, listen for the whistle. The landing
gear wheel wells are open to air and create an unmistable
whistle as the wing rushes over them at over 270 mph during
the pass.
The Lionheart at Moontown is often seen during the monthly
breakfast events and at the annual fly-in in September.
For more information visit www.MoontownAirport.com.
Robert Wood’s 60 mg, 3 cm
wingspan micro aerial vehicle |
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