Titan Tornado Explained

The Titan Tornado is large family of cantilever high-wing, pusher configuration, tricycle gear-equipped kit aircraft manufactured by Titan Aircraft of Austinburg, Ohio, for amateur construction.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

Design and development

The first in the Tornado series, the Tornado 103, which started development in 1990, was introduced in 1994 and designed to fit into the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles category, meeting the 2540NaN0 empty weight limit. If equipped with a light enough engine the Tornado 103 could qualify as a US ultralight.

The Tornado borrows from the design of the Earthstar Thunder Gull J and shares a similar cantilever wing of small area, keeping stall speeds low by use of flaps. This low drag design manages high cross country speeds as a result. The cockpit is constructed from 4130 steel, while the fuselage boom tube and the wings are built from aluminium. Unlike the Gull's wing, which is aircraft fabric-covered or optionally finished in sheet aluminium,[12] the Tornado's wing is stressed skin. The Tornado has a tricycle undercarriage with a supplemental tailwheel castor, as the aircraft sits on its tail when unoccupied.

Operational history

The Tornado 103 was named Ultralight Grand Champion at Sun 'n Fun 1994.

Variants

Tornado 103
  • The first version, a single seater, intended for the US ultralight category with a 201NaN1 wingspan. Standard engine was the 280NaN0 Rotax 277. No longer in production. Reported construction time is 300 hours. Ten were reported flying in 1998.
    Tornado Sport
  • Improved single seater version intended for the US homebuilt category with a 201NaN1 wingspan. Standard engine is the 520NaN0 Rotax 503. No longer in production. Reported construction time is 300 hours. 89 were reported flying in 1999.
    Tornado MG
  • Single seater version intended for the US homebuilt category, with a 261NaN1 wingspan. The wing is detachable for storage or transport. Standard engine is the 400NaN0 Rotax 447 and optional engines included the 520NaN0 Rotax 503, 640NaN0 Rotax 582, 740NaN0 Rotax 618 and the 800NaN0 Rotax 912UL. No longer in production. Reported construction time is 350 hours. Five were reported flying in 2011.
    Tornado I
  • Improved version of the Tornado Sport, intended for the US homebuilt category or light-sport aircraft category as its standard empty weight is 3750NaN0. Standard engine is the 520NaN0 Rotax 503. Still in production.
    Tornado I Sport
  • Single seat version, intended for the US homebuilt category as its standard empty weight is 3200NaN0. Standard engine is the 520NaN0 Rotax 503. No longer in production. 180 were reported flying in 2011.
    Tornado II
  • Two seats in tandem version, intended for the previous US ultralight trainer category and presently for the US homebuilt and light-sport categories. It has a 23.51NaN1 wingspan. Standard engine is the 640NaN0 Rotax 582 and cruise speed is 1000NaN0 with that engine. Acceptable power range is 52to. The 600NaN0 HKS 700E four-stroke engine has also been used. Still in production. Reported construction time is 350 hours. 120 were reported flying in 1998.[13]
    Tornado II Trainer
  • Two seats in tandem version, intended for the previous US ultralight trainer category. It has a 23.51NaN1 wingspan. Standard engine is the 640NaN0 Rotax 582. Acceptable power range is 52to. No longer in production. Reported construction time is 350 hours. 510 were reported flying in 2011.
    Tornado II Sport
  • Two seats in tandem version, intended for the US homebuilt category. It has a 23.51NaN1 wingspan. Standard engine is the 800NaN0 Rotax 912UL. Acceptable power range is 50to. No longer in production. Reported construction time is 350 hours. 500 were reported flying in 2003.
    Tornado II 912
  • Two seats in tandem version, intended for the US homebuilt category. It has a 23.51NaN1 wingspan. Standard engine is the 800NaN0 Rotax 912 and cruise speed is 1200NaN0 with that engine. Acceptable power range is 52to. No longer in production. 145 were reported flying in 1999.
    Tornado II FP
  • Two seats in tandem amphibious floatplane version, intended for the US homebuilt category with a 23.51NaN1 wingspan. Standard engine is the 740NaN0 Rotax 618 and cruise speed is 1050NaN0 with that engine. Out of production. Reported construction time is 350 hours. Twelve were reported flying in 2001.
    Tornado MG II
  • Two seats in tandem version, with a 261NaN1 wingspan. The wing is detachable for storage or transport. Standard engine is the 400NaN0 Rotax 447 and the acceptable power range is 40to. No longer in production. Reported construction time is 400 hours. Eight were reported flying in 2001.
    Tornado S
  • Two seats in tandem "stretched" fuselage version, intended for the US homebuilt and light-sport categories. It has a 23.51NaN1 wingspan. Standard engine is the 1000NaN0 Rotax 912ULS and cruise speed is 1200NaN0 with that engine. Acceptable power range is 52to and alternate engines include the 520NaN0 Rotax 503, 640NaN0 Rotax 582, 800NaN0 Rotax 912UL, 850NaN0 Jabiru 2200, or the 1200NaN0 Jabiru 3300. Still in production. Reported construction time is 300 hours. 55 reported flying in 2011.
    Tornado SS
  • Two seats in tandem "super stretched" fuselage version, intended for the US homebuilt and light-sport categories. It features a longer and higher cockpit area with 40NaN0 more headroom that the Tornado II along with a bigger rear door and a full-sized back seat. It has a 261NaN1 wingspan. Acceptable power range is 80to and engines include the 800NaN0 Rotax 912UL, 1000NaN0 Rotax 912ULS, 850NaN0 Jabiru 2200, or the 1200NaN0 Jabiru 3300. Still in production. Twenty reported as flying in 2011.

    Notes and References

    1. Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, pages B-62 and B-108. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001.
    2. Web site: Welcome to Titan Aircraft. 27 January 2011. Titan Aircraft. 2011.
    3. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, pages 274-275. BAI Communications.
    4. Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, pages 72-73. Primedia Publications.
    5. Downey, Julia: 2001 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 12, December 2000, page 78. Kitplanes Acquisition Company.
    6. Downey, Julia: 2002 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 18, Number 12, December 2001, page 70. Kitplanes Acquisition Company.
    7. Newby-Gonzalez, Tori: 2004 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 20, Number 12, December 2003, page 80. Belvoir Publications.
    8. Downey, Julia: 2005 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 21, Number 12, December 2004, page 83-84. Belvoir Publications.
    9. Downey, Julia: 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, pages 75-76. Primedia Publications.
    10. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 164. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003.
    11. Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 73. Belvoir Publications.
    12. Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page B-61. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001.
    13. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 124. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011.

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