Advanced Aviation Explorer

{{Infobox aircraft |name=Explorer |image= |caption= |type=[[Ultralight aviation|Ultralight]] [[homebuilt aircraft]] |national_origin=[[United States]] |manufacturer=[[Advanced Aviation]] |designer= |first_flight=1990s |introduction= |retired= |status=In production (Toucan) |primary_user= |more_users= |produced= |number_built= |developed_from= [[Maxair Drifter]]<br />[[Sport Flight Talon]] |variants= }} The '''Advanced Aviation Explorer''' is a two-seat [[ultralight]] marketed in kit form, for [[homebuilt aircraft|amateur construction]]. It is a high-wing [[Conventional landing gear|taildragger]] aircraft of [[pusher configuration]] with tandem seating.<ref name="Cliche">Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page B-109. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2007">Downey, Julia: ''2008 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 37. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2004">Downey, Julia: ''2005 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 21, Number 12, December 2004, page 42. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2003">Newby-Gonzalez, Tori: ''2004 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 20, Number 12, December 2003, page 37. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2001">Downey, Julia: ''2002 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 18, Number 12, December 2001, page 21. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2000">Downey, Julia: ''2001 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 12, December 2000, page 29. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec1998">Downey, Julia: ''1999 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 37. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="Aerocrafter">Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter – Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', page 117. BAI Communications. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}</ref>

==Design and development== The aircraft is a development of the [[Talon XP]] which in turn traces its lineage to the [[Maxair Drifter]]. The Explorer has been produced by a number of companies and under a variety of names.<ref name="Cliche" />

The main advance over the Drifter is the Explorer's use of main wing [[strut]]s and [[jury strut]]s in place of cable bracing. Like all aircraft in this family they feature excellent visibility, especially from the front seat when the optional [[fibreglass]] cockpit pod is removed. As a result, the design is often employed as a [[Aerial photography|camera platform]]. It can be flown on floats and has been used for banner towing.<ref name="Cliche" />

Construction is of bolted [[aluminium]] tube, with the flying surfaces covered in pre-sewn [[Dacron]] envelopes. The kit takes about 150–250 hours to assemble.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2007" />

The standard engine is the [[Rotax 582]] of {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}, with the four-stroke {{convert|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 912]] optional.<ref name="Cliche" />

==Variants== ;Explorer :Initial version, derived from the [[Talon XP]], but with struts in place of the cable-braced wing. Produced by [[Advanced Aviation]], no longer in production.<ref name="Cliche" /> ;Zephyr :Similar to the Explorer, but produced by [[Arnet Pereyra Inc]], no longer in production. Also known as the ''Zephyr II'', 40 reported flying in 1998/2001.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2001" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2000" /><ref name="KitplanesDec1998" /><ref name="Aerocrafter" /> ;Toucan :New name for the aircraft when manufacturer Arnet Pereyra changed the company name to [[Aero Adventure Aviation]], powered by a [[Rotax 582]] of {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}. In production, with 10 flying at the end of 2011.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2007" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2004" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2003" /><ref name="ToucanHome">{{Cite web|url=http://www.aeroadventureinc.com/Product%20Line/Toucan.html |title=Toucan |accessdate=15 February 2011 |last=Aero Adventure Aviation |author-link=Aero Adventure Aviation |date=n.d. |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707092105/http://www.aeroadventureinc.com/Product%20Line/Toucan.html |archivedate=7 July 2011 }}</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2011">Vandermeullen, Richard: ''2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide'', Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 37. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref> ;Barracuda :Aero Adventure Aviation produced version powered by the {{convert|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 912]], {{convert|1250|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} gross weight, optimized for amphibious floats. Out of production, with 1 flying at the end of 2007.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2007" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2004" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2003" /><ref name="ToucanHome"/>

==Specifications (Toucan) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Cliche<ref name="Cliche" /> |prime units?=imp  |genhide= |crew=one |capacity=one passenger |length m= |length ft=22 |length in=6 |length note= |span m= |span ft=29 |span in=8 |span note= |height m= |height ft=7 |height in=0 |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=156 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=480 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=1050 |gross weight note= |fuel capacity=12 US gallons (45 litres) |more general=  |eng1 number=[[Rotax 582]] |eng1 name= |eng1 type= |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=64 |prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note=

|perfhide= |max speed kmh= |max speed mph=90 |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=73 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=33 |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles=200 |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft=14000 |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=1100 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==See also== {{Aircontent |related= *[[Lockwood Aircam]] |similar aircraft= |lists= |see also= }}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110707092105/http://www.aeroadventureinc.com/Product%20Line/Toucan.html Official Aero Adventure Toucan website]

[[Category:Homebuilt aircraft]] [[Category:1990s United States ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft]] [[Category:Advanced Aviation aircraft|Explorer]] [[Category:Aero Adventure aircraft|Toucan]]