The Zodiac Talon-Turbine was designed to comply with the US Experimental - Amateur-built aircraft rules. It features a single 251NaN1 diameter two-bladed main rotor, a two-bladed tail rotor, a two-seats-in side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit with a bubble canopy, and skid-type landing gear. The acceptable power range is 95to and the standard engine used is a Sunstrand 1900NaN0 turboshaft powerplant.
Rotor dynamic components can be sourced from commercially produced products for other helicopter models, including the Hughes 300, Robinson R22 and Rotorway Exec.
The aircraft fuselage is made from a combination of steel, aluminum and composite material. The aircraft has an empty weight of 6000NaN0 and a gross weight of 14250NaN0, giving a useful load of 8250NaN0. With full fuel of the payload for crew and baggage is 5000NaN0. The cabin width is 420NaN0.
The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the plans as 1100 hours.
By 1998 the company reported that 400 sets of plans had been sold and 15 aircraft were completed and flying. The prototype was reported to have 1200 hours on it flying overseas in the agricultural aircraft role.
By March 2015 no examples had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.[2]