At
Oshkosh last year on a had an opportunity to interview the new manufacturers of the Sorrel
Hiperlight. At that time they only had the single place on display. At Sun N Fun date
introduced their first production two place. Another first was their use of the Wankel 75
hp four stroke engine. According to the factory representative, the performance difference
between the 503 Rotax two stroke, 50 hp and the Wankel Rotary four stroke which is 75 hp
is quite impressive.
I had earlier done an interview with the Wankel factory representative in
an interview he demonstrated just smooth the Wankel engine ran. This was backed up
by the Hiperlight people. According to them their engine had been installed without any
rubber motor mounts at all! Another thing that they were impressed with was that the
engine only weighed 115 lbs.- for 75 HP. This is an all out weight, including electric
start, reduction drive, and exhaust system.
The two place Hiperlight kit comes from the factory with the 4130 steel
fuselage already welded, the wings come assembled ready to be riveted, with the tail
section basically in completed form. Thus the customer was than most of his time covering
the aircraft. Stits covering is used on the two place. The average person should complete
project in between 350 and 450 hours.
Once ready to fly when equipped with 503 Rotax engine ground roll will be
about 350 feet, with the 75 hp Wankel engine ground roll is about a hundred eighty feet.
Climb rate on the 503 Rotax comes in at between 500 in 600 feet with the Wankel Rotary
almost doubling this. Cruise on the Wankel at 4600 rpm comes in at 75 mph.
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