Airborne XT explained

The Airborne XT is an Australian series of two-seat flying wing ultralight trikes designed and produced by Airborne Windsports and introduced in 2003.[1]

Design and development

The XT series features an XT carriage and a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.

The wing is made from bolted-together aluminium tubing, with its double surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 9.91NaN1 span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame control bar. A number of different wings are available for the series. The XT was the first carriage used by Airborne that incorporated landing gear shock absorbers. It also uses a gas strut to lower and raise the wing for rigging it. Powerplants include the 800NaN0 Rotax 912 four cylinder, four stroke, horizontally-opposed aircraft engine and the 640NaN0 Rotax 582 twin cylinder, two stroke, inline engine.

Variants

XT-912 Streak 2
  • Initial version with 600NaN0 Rotax 912 engine, Streak 2 wing and cockpit fairing, introduced in 2003.
    XT912-SST Tundra
  • Model with 600NaN0 Rotax 912 engine and SST strut-braced wing, cockpit fairing and tundra tires for off-airport operations.[2] [3]
    XT-912 Tundra
  • Model with 600NaN0 Rotax 912 engine and Streak or Cruze model wing, cockpit fairing and tundra tires for off-airport operations.
    XT-912 Tourer
  • Model with 600NaN0 Rotax 912 engine and Streak or Cruze model wing and cockpit fairing.
    XT-912 Outback
  • Development of the Airborne Outback model with 600NaN0 Rotax 912 engine tundra wheels, fuel tank and GX instrument package and no cockpit fairing.
    XT-582 Tourer
  • Model with 480NaN0 Rotax 582 engine, Cruze model wing and cockpit fairing.
    XT-582 Tundra
  • Model with 480NaN0 Rotax 582 engine, tundra tires and cockpit fairing.
    XT-582 Outback
  • Development of the Airborne Outback model with 480NaN0 Rotax 582 engine, tundra tires and no fairing.

    Notes and References

    1. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 94. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
    2. Web site: Airborne Microlight Range. 15 January 2012. Airborne Windsports. 2011.
    3. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 202. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X

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