Jeffair Barracuda

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Barracuda
Silver Barracuda.JPG
Role Sports plane
National origin United States
Manufacturer for homebuilding
Designer
First flight 29 June 1975

The Jeffair Barracuda is a high-performance sporting monoplane that was developed in the United States in the 1970s and is marketed for homebuilding. Designed and built by , the prototype won the prize for "Most Outstanding New Design" at the EAA Fly-in in 1976.[1] It was a low-wing cantilever monoplane of wooden construction with retractable tricycle undercarriage and side-by-side seating for two. Around 150 sets of plans had sold by 1977.

Development[]

Geoffrey Siers was a former RAF pilot and engineer for Boeing in 1967. He set out to design an aircraft that was fast, aerobatic, two place, and had range to fly long cross-country flights. The aircraft was refined after a full size cockpit mockup was made. The lightweight construction of the plywood-covered wooden de Havilland Mosquito was the inspiration for the materials choice. The retractable landing gear came from a Piper PA-24 Comanche. The wings were a three-piece design[2]

Operational history[]

Test flights were performed in 1975. The aircraft takes off at 70 mph (113 km/h) and climbs at 2000 feet per minute (10.2 m/s). Full flap stalls were recorded as low as 54 mph (87 km/h).[3]

Specifications[]

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982–83[4]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m)
  • Wingspan: 24 ft 9 in (7.54 m)
  • Wing area: 120 sq ft (11 m2)
  • Airfoil: NACA 642415
  • Empty weight: 1,495 lb (678 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,300 lb (1,043 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 44 US gal (37 imp gal; 170 L)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-540-E4B5 , 260 hp (190 kW)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed Hartzell constant-speed propeller, 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) diameter

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 218 mph (351 km/h, 189 kn) at 7,000 ft (2,100 m)
  • Cruise speed: 180 mph (290 km/h, 160 kn) at 9,000 ft (2,700 m) (62% power)
  • Stall speed: 62 mph (100 km/h, 54 kn) (flaps down)
  • Never exceed speed: 300 mph (480 km/h, 260 kn)
  • Range: 450 mi (720 km, 390 nmi) at 65% power, 30 min reserves
  • Rate of climb: 2,500 ft/min (13 m/s)

References[]

  1. ^ "76 Awards". Sport Aviation. October 1976.
  2. ^ Geoffrey Siers (May 1972). "Barracuda". Sport Aviation.
  3. ^ "Barracuda flies". Sport Aviation. January 1976.
  4. ^ Taylor 1982, p. 548
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 535.
  • Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1977-78. London: Jane's Yearbooks. p. 544.
  • Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1982). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982–83. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.
  • Archived copy of Siersflight website
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