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Beechcraft Skipper

January 01, 1970

The Beechcraft Model 77 Skipper is a two-seat, fixed tricycle gear general aviation airplane, originally designed for flight training but also used for touring and personal flying.[1][2]

Model 77 Skipper
Role Light utility aircraft
Manufacturer Beech Aircraft Corporation
First flight September 12, 1978
Introduction 1979
Produced 1979-1983
Number built 312

Design and development edit

The Skipper was conceived with the design goals of creating a low cost primary trainer with an emphasis on ease of maintenance and low operating costs.[2]

Design work on the Skipper began in 1974 as the PD 285,[3] which made its maiden flight on February 6, 1975.[2][4] The Skipper was Beechcraft's attempt to enter the two-place trainer market with an aircraft capable of competing with the popular Cessna 150 line of trainer aircraft. Though the aircraft first flew with a standard tail configuration, by the time it entered production, a T-tail configuration had been adopted, giving it an appearance very similar to its close competitor, the Piper PA-38 Tomahawk introduced in 1978.[1][2]

Like the Cessna and Piper trainers which were its primary competition, the Skipper utilizes the Lycoming O-235 engine and features side-by-side configuration seating.[2] Production was handled at the Liberal (Kansas) Division, where the Beechcraft Duchess and Musketeer were produced.[5]

The Skipper wing utilizes a GA(W)-1 airfoil,[3] specifically developed for low-speed aviation applications, based on 1970s NASA research.[2] The aircraft was certified for intentional spins.[3] While it is an all-metal design, the Skipper incorporated a number of innovative construction techniques, including tubular spars and aluminum honeycomb construction with metal-to-metal bonding, a technique inherited from the Musketeer family.[5] The flaps and ailerons are actuated by torque tubes, rather than cables.[2] The landing gear is mounted to the fuselage/wing junction, but has a 5.17 ft (2 m) wide wheelbase, giving it a "spraddle-legged" appearance on the ground.[1]

Operational history edit

 
Beechcraft Skipper

The Skipper had the misfortune of being introduced at the beginning of a severe downturn in general aviation aircraft production in the United States. During its first year 1979, 47 were built, 140 in 1980, and 125 in 1981.[3] Production stopped in 1983.[6] A total of 312 aircraft were built.

Most of the production run was initially delivered to Beechcraft's flight school network, the Beech Aero Centers, where they were used as primary trainers.[1] A handful of Skippers are still in use as trainers. Others are in the hands of private owners who use them as touring aircraft.

Specifications edit

 
Beechcraft 77 Skipper

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1980–81[7] and Observer's Book of Aircraft 1981[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
  • Wingspan: 30 ft 0 in (9.14 m)
  • Height: 7 ft 11 in (2.41 m)
  • Wing area: 129.8 sq ft (12.1 m2)
  • Airfoil: GA(W)-1
  • Empty weight: 1,100 lb (499 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,675 lb (760 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-235-L2C flat-4 engine, 115 hp (86 kW)

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 105 kn (121 mph, 195 km/h)
  • Stall speed: 47 kn (54 mph, 87 km/h) (flaps down)
  • Range: 412 nmi (475 mi, 764 km) at 8,500 ft (2,600 m) (econ cruise)
  • Service ceiling: 12,900 ft (3,930 m)
  • Rate of climb: 720 ft/min (3.65 m/s)

See also edit

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References edit

Notes
  1. ^ a b c d Montgomery, M.R. and Gerald Foster: A Field Guide to Airplanes, Second Edition, page 26. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1992. ISBN 0-395-62888-1
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Green, William: Observers Aircraft, pages 40-41. Frederick Warne Publishing, 1981. ISBN 0-7232-1618-5
  3. ^ a b c d Phillips, Edward H., Beechcraft - Staggerwing to Starship. Flying Books, 1987. ISBN 0-911139-06-0.
  4. ^ Air Enthusiast December 1975, p. 312.
  5. ^ a b Phillips, Edward (June 8, 2018). "The "Baby Beechcraft" - Part Two". KingAir Magazine. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  6. ^ "Beech Plans to Close Plant at Liberal, Kan". Aviation Week & Space Technology: 27. February 18, 1985.
  7. ^ Taylor 1980, p. 265.
Bibliography

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beechcraft Skipper.

    January 01, 1970
    beechcraft, skipper, beechcraft, model, skipper, seat, fixed, tricycle, gear, general, aviation, airplane, originally, designed, flight, training, also, used, touring, personal, flying, model, skipper, role, light, utility, aircraft, manufacturer, beech, aircr. The Beechcraft Model 77 Skipper is a two seat fixed tricycle gear general aviation airplane originally designed for flight training but also used for touring and personal flying 1 2 Model 77 Skipper Role Light utility aircraft Manufacturer Beech Aircraft Corporation First flight September 12 1978 Introduction 1979 Produced 1979 1983 Number built 312 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Specifications 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDesign and development editThe Skipper was conceived with the design goals of creating a low cost primary trainer with an emphasis on ease of maintenance and low operating costs 2 Design work on the Skipper began in 1974 as the PD 285 3 which made its maiden flight on February 6 1975 2 4 The Skipper was Beechcraft s attempt to enter the two place trainer market with an aircraft capable of competing with the popular Cessna 150 line of trainer aircraft Though the aircraft first flew with a standard tail configuration by the time it entered production a T tail configuration had been adopted giving it an appearance very similar to its close competitor the Piper PA 38 Tomahawk introduced in 1978 1 2 Like the Cessna and Piper trainers which were its primary competition the Skipper utilizes the Lycoming O 235 engine and features side by side configuration seating 2 Production was handled at the Liberal Kansas Division where the Beechcraft Duchess and Musketeer were produced 5 The Skipper wing utilizes a GA W 1 airfoil 3 specifically developed for low speed aviation applications based on 1970s NASA research 2 The aircraft was certified for intentional spins 3 While it is an all metal design the Skipper incorporated a number of innovative construction techniques including tubular spars and aluminum honeycomb construction with metal to metal bonding a technique inherited from the Musketeer family 5 The flaps and ailerons are actuated by torque tubes rather than cables 2 The landing gear is mounted to the fuselage wing junction but has a 5 17 ft 2 m wide wheelbase giving it a spraddle legged appearance on the ground 1 Operational history edit nbsp Beechcraft Skipper The Skipper had the misfortune of being introduced at the beginning of a severe downturn in general aviation aircraft production in the United States During its first year 1979 47 were built 140 in 1980 and 125 in 1981 3 Production stopped in 1983 6 A total of 312 aircraft were built Most of the production run was initially delivered to Beechcraft s flight school network the Beech Aero Centers where they were used as primary trainers 1 A handful of Skippers are still in use as trainers Others are in the hands of private owners who use them as touring aircraft Specifications edit nbsp Beechcraft 77 Skipper Data from Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1980 81 7 and Observer s Book of Aircraft 1981 2 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 24 ft 0 in 7 32 m Wingspan 30 ft 0 in 9 14 m Height 7 ft 11 in 2 41 m Wing area 129 8 sq ft 12 1 m2 Airfoil GA W 1 Empty weight 1 100 lb 499 kg Max takeoff weight 1 675 lb 760 kg Powerplant 1 Lycoming O 235 L2C flat 4 engine 115 hp 86 kW Performance Cruise speed 105 kn 121 mph 195 km h Stall speed 47 kn 54 mph 87 km h flaps down Range 412 nmi 475 mi 764 km at 8 500 ft 2 600 m econ cruise Service ceiling 12 900 ft 3 930 m Rate of climb 720 ft min 3 65 m s See also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Cessna 150 Cessna 152 Grumman American AA 1 Liberty XL2 Piper PA 38 Tomahawk Symphony SA 160 Whitney BoomerangReferences editNotes a b c d Montgomery M R and Gerald Foster A Field Guide to Airplanes Second Edition page 26 Houghton Mifflin Company 1992 ISBN 0 395 62888 1 a b c d e f g h Green William Observers Aircraft pages 40 41 Frederick Warne Publishing 1981 ISBN 0 7232 1618 5 a b c d Phillips Edward H Beechcraft Staggerwing to Starship Flying Books 1987 ISBN 0 911139 06 0 Air Enthusiast December 1975 p 312 a b Phillips Edward June 8 2018 The Baby Beechcraft Part Two KingAir Magazine Retrieved December 25 2018 Beech Plans to Close Plant at Liberal Kan Aviation Week amp Space Technology 27 February 18 1985 Taylor 1980 p 265 Bibliography Airdata File Beechcraft PD 285 Air Enthusiast December 1975 Vol 9 No 6 p 312 Taylor John W R Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1980 81 London Jane s Publishing Company 1980 ISBN 0 7106 0705 9 Federal Aviation Administration Rev 8 pdf Type certificate data sheet no A30CE Revision 8 November 27 2017 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beechcraft Skipper Beechcraft website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Beechcraft Skipper amp oldid 1090462341, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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