Sport Flight Talon Explained

The Sport Flight Talon is a high-wing, pusher configuration single-engine, conventional landing gear homebuilt aircraft or ultralight aircraft, that was produced by Sport Flight Aviation of Sandy, Oregon in kit form for amateur construction.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

The aircraft is no longer offered on the company website and seems to be out of production.[7]

Design and development

The Talon was developed from the Maxair Drifter and introduced into the market in 1989. The aircraft shares the Drifter's main fuselage tube, used as the aircraft's spine. The rudder pedals attach to the front of the tube, the seat and wing support structure to the center and the tail to the rear of the tube. The main improvements over the original Drifter include strut-braced wings with jury struts, flaps, streamlined baggage area, optional enclosed cockpit, wheel pants and brakes. The addition of many options and extras over the basic Drifter design means that the Talon cannot be constructed in the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles category, due to exceeding the maximum 2540NaN0 category empty weight and must instead be registered as a homebuilt aircraft in the USA. In other countries, such as Canada, the Talon fits the ultralight or microlight aircraft category.[1]

The aircraft's structure is made from 6061-T6 aluminum, with the main landing gear struts of 4130 steel. The aluminum frame wing is covered in pre-sewn Dacron envelopes. Construction time from the kit is reported as 120 hours.[1]

The basic Talon design has been developed into a series of single and tandem two seaters, with varying powerplants.[2] [3] [4] [5]

Variants

Talon Magnum
  • Single seat model, power range 40to, standard engine HKS 700E of 600NaN0. Optional engines include the 400NaN0 Rotax 447, the 500NaN0 Rotax 503 and the 640NaN0 Rotax 582. Twenty had been constructed by December 2007.[2] [3]
    Talon XP
  • Two-seats-in-tandem model, power range 40to, standard engine HKS 700E of 600NaN0. Optional engines include the 400NaN0 Rotax 447, the 500NaN0 Rotax 503 and the 640NaN0 Rotax 582. This model has an increased wingspan of 28.52NaN2. Seventy had been constructed by December 2007.[3] [6] [8]
    Talon Super Magnum
  • Single model, standard engine Rotax 582 of 640NaN0, with the 400NaN0 Rotax 447 or the 500NaN0 Rotax 503 optional. This model is the XP model with the rear seat area converted into additional baggage space. It has an increased wingspan of 28.52NaN2. Fits the FAI microlight class.[4]
    Talon Typhoon
  • Single seat aerobatic model.[4] [6] [8]

    Notes and References

    1. Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page B-59. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001.
    2. Downey, Julia: 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 73. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
    3. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 256. BAI Communications.
    4. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 162. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
    5. Web site: Pricing. 21 January 2011. Sport Flight Aviation. n.d..
    6. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 127. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015.
    7. Web site: Recreational Flying You Can Enjoy. 28 January 2017. Sport Flight Aviation. 2017.
    8. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 120. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X

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