Kestrel KL-1 explained
The Kestrel KL-1 is an American single-engined four-seat utility aircraft designed and built in the 1990s by the Kestrel Aircraft Company of Norman, Oklahoma.
Design and development
The KL-1 is a composite fuselage cantilever high-wing cabin monoplane designed to meet the requirements of the utility and normal categories of Part 23 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. It had a fixed tricycle landing gear and a conventional four-seat cabin layout. The prototype designated KL-1A and registered N960KA first flew on 19 November 1995 and was powered by a 1600NaN0 Lycoming O-320-D2G piston engine driving a two-bladed fixed pitch propeller.
A number of improved variants of the KL-1 were planned including an armed observation or forward air control version with underwing weapon pylons.
While the prototype was test flying to gain certification the programme was abandoned.
Variants
- KL-1A
Baseline four-seat production variant with a 1600NaN0 Lycoming O-320-D2G piston engine, one built.
- KL-1B
Proposed de-luxe four-seat variant with a 1900NaN0 Lycoming IO-360-ES piston engine, not built.
- KL-1C
Proposed high-performance variant with a 2500NaN0 Continental TSIO-360C piston engine, 2 built.[1]
- KL-1D
Proposed six-seat utility and cargo variant with a 3250NaN0 Continental TSIO-550-B engine, and an optional floatplane conversion, not built.
- KL-1R
Proposed retractable landing gear variant of the KL-1B with a 1900NaN0 Lycoming IO-360-ES piston engine, not built.
- K250A
Proposed military armed observation or forward area control variant of the KL-1C with additional observation windows and underwing weapons pods, not built.References
Bibliography
- Book: Paul Jackson . Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1995-1996. 1995 . Jane's Information Group Limited. 0-7106-1262-1.
Notes and References
- Web site: Eckland. K.O.. Aircraft K. Aerofiles. 13 October 2017.
