Striplin Lone Ranger Explained
The
Striplin Lone Ranger is a family of
American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Ken Striplin. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for
amateur construction.
[1] [2] Design and development
The aircraft was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 2540NaN0. The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 2450NaN0. It features a high-wing, a single-seat, open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.
The Lone Ranger was designed to overcome pitch stability problems found in the earlier Striplin FLAC tailless aircraft. Stability was increased with the addition of a conventional tail unit, including conventional elevators and a rudder for control. Because they were no longer needed the FLAC's wing tip rudders were deleted. The landing gear is of tricycle configuration and features a steerable nosewheel. The engine is mounted above the wing, with the propeller above and in front of the windshield. The design spawned a family of variants featuring one and two seats, as well as strut-braced and cantilever wings.
Variants
- Striplin Lone Ranger
Initial version for US production. Early versions have dual wing struts, while later models have just one strut. Engines used include the Zenoah G-25B of 200NaN0 and the Yamaha KT-100S of 150NaN0.
- Aero and Engineering Services Lone Ranger
Cantilever wing version produced by Aero and Engineering Services of the United Kingdom. The wing was redesigned and has a span of 341NaN1. The engine used is the Zenoah G-25B of 200NaN0. Empty weight 2100NaN0, gross weight 4200NaN0, glide ratio of 17:1.
- Silver Cloud
Improved version with a cantilever wing and full-span flaperons. Engines used include the Cuyuna 215R of 200NaN0.
- Sky Ranger
Two seat version of the Lone Ranger.
- Silver Cloud II
Two seat version of the Silver Cloud.External links
Notes and References
- Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page E-22. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001.
- Web site: Lone Ranger. 24 November 2011. Virtual Ultralight Museum. n.d.. February 7, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100207184005/http://virtualultralightmuseum.com/jkl.htm#loneranger. dead.
