The Stits SA-8A Skeeto is an early homebuilt ultralight design by Ray Stits. ("Ultralight" was not official classification in America at the time since Code of Federal Regulations Title 14 (Federal Aviation Regulations) Part 103, better known as 14 CFR Part 103 or just Part 103, which defined ultralight vehicles in the United States, was not adopted until 1982.)
The Skeeto was initially intended to be an affordable light aircraft that could be built complete for under $500 in 1957. The fuselage was welded steel tubing, with mostly fabric covered wood construction for the wings and control surfaces. The engine for this kit venture was to be a low cost off-the shelf model.
Test model 1 was a 4 hp (3 kW) Continental modified for 6 hp (4 kW).
Test model 2 was a two cycle 3.5 hp (2.6 kW) engine with a belt reduction.
Test model 3 used two engines on a single v-belt making it a 4 hp (3 kW) twin engine which flew at 25 mph.
Test model 4 had a homelite chainsaw engine at 7.5 hp (5.6 kW)
Test model 5 used a Disston chain saw engine at 9 hp (7 kW)
Test model 6 used a Disston chain saw engine mounted inverted.
Test model 7 used an Inverted Evinrude 25 hp (19 kW) outboard boat motor.
Test flights were limited to the length of the runway after the aircraft was registered as a "research and development" project. The roll rate was so low at 20-30 mph, that rudder turns were preferred. The 3-4 pound wing loading was considered impractically light for handling. An example of a SA-8 Skeeto was donated to the Claremont, California Air Museum in 1958,[2] it is now in the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.[3]
Specifications (Stits SA-8A Skeeto)edit
Data from Sport Aviation
General characteristics
Length: 18 ft (5.5 m)
Wingspan: 30 ft (9.1 m)
Height: 7 ft (2.1 m)
Wing area: 120 sq ft (11 m2) model 1
Empty weight: 175 lb (79 kg) 175lb test one model.
Gross weight: 400 lb (181 kg) model 1
Fuel capacity: 2.5 gal (9.5 litres)
Powerplant: × Evenrude , 25 hp (19 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 48 kn (55 mph, 89 km/h)
Cruise speed: 39 kn (45 mph, 72 km/h)
Service ceiling: 50 ft (15 m) This aircraft was only certified to fly up to 50 feet.
Rate of climb: 250 ft/min (1.3 m/s)
Referencesedit
^Sport Aviation. March 1958. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^Sport Aviation. April 1958. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
stits, skeeto, stits, skeeto, early, homebuilt, ultralight, design, stits, ultralight, official, classification, america, time, since, code, federal, regulations, title, federal, aviation, regulations, part, better, known, part, just, part, which, defined, ult. The Stits SA 8A Skeeto is an early homebuilt ultralight design by Ray Stits Ultralight was not official classification in America at the time since Code of Federal Regulations Title 14 Federal Aviation Regulations Part 103 better known as 14 CFR Part 103 or just Part 103 which defined ultralight vehicles in the United States was not adopted until 1982 Stits SA 8A Skeeto Role Homebuilt aircraft National origin United States of America Designer Ray Stits Introduction 1957 Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 3 Specifications Stits SA 8A Skeeto 4 ReferencesDevelopment editThe Skeeto was initially intended to be an affordable light aircraft that could be built complete for under 500 in 1957 The fuselage was welded steel tubing with mostly fabric covered wood construction for the wings and control surfaces The engine for this kit venture was to be a low cost off the shelf model Test model 1 was a 4 hp 3 kW Continental modified for 6 hp 4 kW Test model 2 was a two cycle 3 5 hp 2 6 kW engine with a belt reduction Test model 3 used two engines on a single v belt making it a 4 hp 3 kW twin engine which flew at 25 mph Test model 4 had a homelite chainsaw engine at 7 5 hp 5 6 kW Test model 5 used a Disston chain saw engine at 9 hp 7 kW Test model 6 used a Disston chain saw engine mounted inverted Test model 7 used an Inverted Evinrude 25 hp 19 kW outboard boat motor Test model 8 used a right side up Evinrude 1 Operational history editTest flights were limited to the length of the runway after the aircraft was registered as a research and development project The roll rate was so low at 20 30 mph that rudder turns were preferred The 3 4 pound wing loading was considered impractically light for handling An example of a SA 8 Skeeto was donated to the Claremont California Air Museum in 1958 2 it is now in the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh Wisconsin 3 Specifications Stits SA 8A Skeeto editData from Sport AviationGeneral characteristicsLength 18 ft 5 5 m Wingspan 30 ft 9 1 m Height 7 ft 2 1 m Wing area 120 sq ft 11 m2 model 1 Empty weight 175 lb 79 kg 175lb test one model Gross weight 400 lb 181 kg model 1 Fuel capacity 2 5 gal 9 5 litres Powerplant Evenrude 25 hp 19 kW Performance Maximum speed 48 kn 55 mph 89 km h Cruise speed 39 kn 45 mph 72 km h Service ceiling 50 ft 15 m This aircraft was only certified to fly up to 50 feet Rate of climb 250 ft min 1 3 m s References edit Sport Aviation March 1958 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Missing or empty title help Sport Aviation April 1958 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Missing or empty title help Stits Skeeto SA 8 Retrieved 17 April 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stits SA 8 Skeeto amp oldid 1134864709, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
