Capella XS explained

The Capella XS is a family of American high wing, tractor configuration, cabin aircraft that were produced in kit form by Capella Aircraft of Austin, Texas and intended for amateur construction.[1] [2]

Capella Aircraft went out of business in late 2007, and the series is no longer in production.

Design and development

The single seat SS model was introduced in 1988. All members of the design family were available as optionally conventional landing gear or tricycle gear-equipped aircraft.

The family of aircraft all share common design features, including an enclosed cabin-style fuselage, horizontal stabilizer and tail fin all constructed of welded 4130 steel tubing. The wing is framed from riveted aluminium tubing with all surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric. The wing includes flaps and has an optional folding system for transport and storage.

The landing gear arrangement includes sprung-steel main gear and a similarly sprung steerable tail wheel or optional sprung-steel nose wheel.

The single-seat SS model was developed into a line of side-by-side two seaters with different engine and fuselage designs.

Variants

SS
  • Single seat cabin light aircraft with a gross weight of 6250NaN0 and powered by a 400NaN0 Rotax 447 or a 500NaN0 Rotax 503 engine. The fuselage incorporates a rear window. First flown in 1988.
    XS
  • Two seats in side-by-side configuration cabin light aircraft with a gross weight of 12000NaN0 and powered by a 640NaN0 Rotax 582 engine. The fuselage incorporates a rear window. First flown in 1990.
    XLS
  • Two seats in side-by-side configuration cabin light aircraft with a gross weight of 12000NaN0 and powered by an 800NaN0 Rotax 912 four-stroke engine. The fuselage incorporates a rear window. First flown in 1990.
    XLS Super 100
  • Two seats in side-by-side configuration cabin light aircraft with a gross weight of 12700NaN0 and powered by a 1000NaN0 Rotax 912S four-stroke engine. Available in TR tricycle gear and TD taildragger models. The fuselage incorporates a rear window.[3]
    Fastback
  • Two seats in side-by-side configuration cabin light aircraft with a gross weight of 12000NaN0 and powered by a 800NaN0 Rotax 912 four-stroke engine. First flown in 1995. Fuselage differs from the XS in that the rear window is eliminated and replaced with a high rear turtle deck, rendering the aircraft similar in appearance to a Piper J-3 Cub, Aeronca Champ or Taylorcraft B.

    Notes and References

    1. Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 40. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
    2. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 136-7. BAI Communications.
    3. Web site: Capella XLS Super 100. 9 May 2010. Capella Aircraft. 2004 .

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