The Robin ATL (Avion Très Léger, "very light aircraft") is a French two-seat light aircraft designed by Avions Robin in the 1980s to meet a need for an economical two-seat aircraft to equip flying clubs. It is a single-engined monoplane with a fixed tricycle undercarriage, conventional control stick, and is, unusually, fitted with a V-tail. Due to the large bubble canopy, visibility is excellent. Its benign flight characteristics, moderate speeds and low fuel consumption, as well as some unique details, like an engine starter button which can only be pressed when the fuel selector switch is open, made the ATL a good trainer.
In the early 1980s, Avions Pierre Robin started design of an ultra-lightweight two-seat light aircraft intended to meet the requirements of French flying clubs for a low-cost light trainer, as existing American training aircraft were becoming increasingly expensive, which was not helped by an unfavourable exchange rate, which resulted in a competition to supply a new light trainer, which could be mass-produced for supply to subsidised French flying clubs. Robin won the competition in 1983 with their ATL design, a single-engined low-winged monoplane with a fixed undercarriage and a V-tail. The ATL's fuselage was of Glass-reinforced plastic construction, with a wooden wing, while the V-tail is a conventional all-metal construction.[1]
The first prototype flew on 17 June 1983, powered by a single 35 kW (47 hp) JPX PAL 1300, a new design of two stroke, three-cylinder radial engine.[2] However, testing showed that the new engine was prone to vibration, and in order to speed development and certification, the prototype was re-engined with a converted Volkswagen car engine,[3] which formed the basis for production. As the four-cylinder car engine was heavier than the original engine, the aircraft's wings were swept forward to maintain the aircraft's centre of gravity in an acceptable position.[2]
Operational historyedit
First orders, for 30 ATLs were placed by the French National Aviation Federation in November 1983, with initial deliveries starting (under a limited airworthiness approval) in April 1985. Full French certification followed on 15 January 1986.[2] The ATL was prone to engine problems, however, which forced the recall of early production aircraft for modification, and limited the attractiveness of the aircraft, particularly for export.[4]
One solution to this problem was re-engining with a more reliable engine, and Robin developed a version for the German market powered by a 52.5 kW (70 hp) Limbach. While the Limbach was also a modified VW car engine, crucially, it had dual ignition instead of the single ignition on the JPX-modified engines normally used, this being certified in 1989.[4][5] This came too late, however, and production ended in 1991 after the completion of 132 aircraft, of which 10 were powered by the Limbach engine.[4]
Variantsedit
ATL Club
Initial production version, named Bijou in the UK.
ATL Club Model 88
Late production version, with smaller propeller giving greater ground clearance and more fuel.
ATL Club Model 89
Limbach powered version.
Specifications (ATL Club)edit
Data fromJane's All the World's Aircraft 1988–89.[2]
"Robin ATL flies with VW". Flight International, 26 November 1983. p. 1418.
"Robin re-engines ATL". Flight International, 1 July 1989. p. 20.
Blech, Robin. "The Jewel in Robin's Crown: Flight Test Robin ATL". Flight International, 22 June 1985. pp. 26–30.
Donald, David (ed.).The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft Leicester:Blitz, 1997. ISBN1-85605-375-X.
Taylor, John W R. (ed.). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988–89. Coulsdon, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group, 1988. ISBN0-7106-0867-5.
January 01, 1970
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The Robin ATL Avion Tres Leger very light aircraft is a French two seat light aircraft designed by Avions Robin in the 1980s to meet a need for an economical two seat aircraft to equip flying clubs It is a single engined monoplane with a fixed tricycle undercarriage conventional control stick and is unusually fitted with a V tail Due to the large bubble canopy visibility is excellent Its benign flight characteristics moderate speeds and low fuel consumption as well as some unique details like an engine starter button which can only be pressed when the fuel selector switch is open made the ATL a good trainer ATL Role Light aircraft Manufacturer Avions Robin First flight 17 June 1983 Produced 1985 1991 Number built 132 Contents 1 Development and design 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Specifications ATL Club 5 See also 6 ReferencesDevelopment and design editIn the early 1980s Avions Pierre Robin started design of an ultra lightweight two seat light aircraft intended to meet the requirements of French flying clubs for a low cost light trainer as existing American training aircraft were becoming increasingly expensive which was not helped by an unfavourable exchange rate which resulted in a competition to supply a new light trainer which could be mass produced for supply to subsidised French flying clubs Robin won the competition in 1983 with their ATL design a single engined low winged monoplane with a fixed undercarriage and a V tail The ATL s fuselage was of Glass reinforced plastic construction with a wooden wing while the V tail is a conventional all metal construction 1 The first prototype flew on 17 June 1983 powered by a single 35 kW 47 hp JPX PAL 1300 a new design of two stroke three cylinder radial engine 2 However testing showed that the new engine was prone to vibration and in order to speed development and certification the prototype was re engined with a converted Volkswagen car engine 3 which formed the basis for production As the four cylinder car engine was heavier than the original engine the aircraft s wings were swept forward to maintain the aircraft s centre of gravity in an acceptable position 2 Operational history editFirst orders for 30 ATLs were placed by the French National Aviation Federation in November 1983 with initial deliveries starting under a limited airworthiness approval in April 1985 Full French certification followed on 15 January 1986 2 The ATL was prone to engine problems however which forced the recall of early production aircraft for modification and limited the attractiveness of the aircraft particularly for export 4 One solution to this problem was re engining with a more reliable engine and Robin developed a version for the German market powered by a 52 5 kW 70 hp Limbach While the Limbach was also a modified VW car engine crucially it had dual ignition instead of the single ignition on the JPX modified engines normally used this being certified in 1989 4 5 This came too late however and production ended in 1991 after the completion of 132 aircraft of which 10 were powered by the Limbach engine 4 Variants editATL Club Initial production version named Bijou in the UK ATL Club Model 88 Late production version with smaller propeller giving greater ground clearance and more fuel ATL Club Model 89 Limbach powered version Specifications ATL Club editData from Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1988 89 2 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 6 72 m 22 ft 1 in Wingspan 10 25 m 33 ft 8 in Height 2 00 m 6 ft 7 in Wing area 12 15 m2 130 8 sq ft Aspect ratio 8 65 1 Airfoil NACA 43015 modified Empty weight 360 kg 794 lb Max takeoff weight 580 kg 1 279 lb Fuel capacity 42 L 9 2 imp gal 11 US gal usable fuel Powerplant 1 JPX 4T 60A four cylinder air cooled horizontally opposed 48 kW 65 hp Performance Maximum speed 185 km h 115 mph 100 kn at sea level Cruise speed 142 km h 88 mph 77 kn at 2 440 m 8 010 ft econ cruise 50 power Stall speed 75 km h 47 mph 40 kn flaps down Range 790 km 490 mi 430 nmi Service ceiling 3 960 m 12 990 ft Rate of climb 2 8 m s 550 ft min Takeoff distance to 15 m 50 ft 420 m 1 380 ft Landing distance from 15 m 50 ft 380 ft 120 m See also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era ARV Super2References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robin ATL Blech 1985 p 26 a b c d Taylor 1988 p 83 Flight International 26 November 1983 p 1418 a b c Donald 1997 p 775 Flight International 1 July 1989 p 20 Robin ATL flies with VW Flight International 26 November 1983 p 1418 Robin re engines ATL Flight International 1 July 1989 p 20 Blech Robin The Jewel in Robin s Crown Flight Test Robin ATL Flight International 22 June 1985 pp 26 30 Donald David ed The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft Leicester Blitz 1997 ISBN 1 85605 375 X Taylor John W R ed Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1988 89 Coulsdon Surrey UK Jane s Information Group 1988 ISBN 0 7106 0867 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robin ATL amp oldid 1067719962, 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