Solo Wings Aquilla Explained

The Solo Wings Aquilla (English: Eagle) is a South African ultralight trike designed and produced by Solo Wings of Gillitts, KwaZulu-Natal. The aircraft was also sold in the United States by Bateleur Sky Sports of Palm Coast, Florida in the early 2000s, under their own name.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Design and development

The Aquilla was derived from the earlier Solo Wings Windlass and designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, including the category's maximum gross weight of 4500NaN0. The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 4500NaN0. It features 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 aircraft is made from tubing, with its wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 341NaN1 span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame control bar. The landing gear includes suspension on all three wheels and a steerable nose wheel. The standard engine supplied is the Rotax 582 640NaN0 twin cylinder, two-stroke, liquid-cooled aircraft engine. The Rotax 503 500NaN0 air-cooled two-stroke engine and the four-stroke HKS 700E 600NaN0 and Rotax 912UL of 800NaN0 are also available. Wings used include the Aquilla 150square feet and 177square feet.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page C-30. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001.
2. Downey, Julia: 2000 Trike and 'Chute Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 2, February 2000, page 45. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851
3. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 110. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
4. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 222. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
5. Web site: Products. 31 January 2012. Solo Wings. n.d.. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111117190745/http://www.solowings.co.za/products/products.html. 17 November 2011.