# Advanced Aviation Explorer

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Explorer General information Type Ultralight homebuilt aircraft National origin United States Manufacturer Advanced Aviation Status In production (Toucan) History First flight 1990s Developed from Maxair Drifter Sport Flight Talon

The **Advanced Aviation Explorer** is a two-seat [ultralight](/source/Ultralight) marketed in kit form, for [amateur construction](/source/Homebuilt_aircraft). It is a high-wing [taildragger](/source/Conventional_landing_gear) aircraft of [pusher configuration](/source/Pusher_configuration) with tandem seating.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

## Design and development

The aircraft is a development of the [Talon XP](/source/Talon_XP) which in turn traces its lineage to the [Maxair Drifter](/source/Maxair_Drifter). The Explorer has been produced by a number of companies and under a variety of names.[1]

The main advance over the Drifter is the Explorer's use of main wing [struts](/source/Strut) and [jury struts](/source/Jury_strut) in place of cable bracing. Like all aircraft in this family they feature excellent visibility, especially from the front seat when the optional [fibreglass](/source/Fibreglass) cockpit pod is removed. As a result, the design is often employed as a [camera platform](/source/Aerial_photography). It can be flown on floats and has been used for banner towing.[1]

Construction is of bolted [aluminium](/source/Aluminium) tube, with the flying surfaces covered in pre-sewn [Dacron](/source/Dacron) envelopes. The kit takes about 150–250 hours to assemble.[1][2]

The standard engine is the [Rotax 582](/source/Rotax_582) of 64 hp (48 kW), with the four-stroke 80 hp (60 kW) [Rotax 912](/source/Rotax_912) optional.[1]

## Variants

**Explorer**
- Initial version, derived from the [Talon XP](/source/Talon_XP), but with struts in place of the cable-braced wing. Produced by [Advanced Aviation](/source/Advanced_Aviation), no longer in production.[1]

**Zephyr**
- Similar to the Explorer, but produced by [Arnet Pereyra Inc](/source/Arnet_Pereyra_Inc), no longer in production. Also known as the *Zephyr II*, 40 reported flying in 1998/2001.[1][5][6][7][8]

**Toucan**
- New name for the aircraft when manufacturer Arnet Pereyra changed the company name to [Aero Adventure Aviation](/source/Aero_Adventure_Aviation), powered by a [Rotax 582](/source/Rotax_582) of 64 hp (48 kW). In production, with 10 flying at the end of 2011.[1][2][3][4][9][10]

**Barracuda**
- Aero Adventure Aviation produced version powered by the 80 hp (60 kW) [Rotax 912](/source/Rotax_912), 1,250 lb (567 kg) gross weight, optimized for amphibious floats. Out of production, with 1 flying at the end of 2007.[1][2][3][4][9]

## Specifications (Toucan)

*Data from* Cliche[1]

**General characteristics**

- **Crew:** one

- **Capacity:** one passenger

- **Length:** 22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)

- **Wingspan:** 29 ft 8 in (9.04 m)

- **Height:** 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)

- **Wing area:** 156 sq ft (14.5 m2)

- **Empty weight:** 480 lb (218 kg)

- **Gross weight:** 1,050 lb (476 kg)

- **Fuel capacity:** 12 US gallons (45 litres)

**Performance**

- **Maximum speed:** 90 mph (140 km/h, 78 kn)

- **Cruise speed:** 73 mph (117 km/h, 63 kn)

- **Stall speed:** 33 mph (53 km/h, 29 kn)

- **Range:** 200 mi (320 km, 170 nmi)

- **Service ceiling:** 14,000 ft (4,300 m)

- **Rate of climb:** 1,100 ft/min (5.6 m/s)

## See also

**Related development**

- [Lockwood Aircam](/source/Lockwood_Aircam)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Cliche_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Cliche_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Cliche_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Cliche_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Cliche_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Cliche_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Cliche_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-Cliche_1-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-Cliche_1-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-Cliche_1-9) Cliche, Andre: *Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide* 8th Edition, page B-109. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9680628-1-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9680628-1-4)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2007_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2007_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2007_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2007_2-3) Downey, Julia: *2008 Kit Aircraft Directory*, Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 37. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2004_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2004_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2004_3-2) Downey, Julia: *2005 Kit Aircraft Directory*, Kitplanes, Volume 21, Number 12, December 2004, page 42. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2003_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2003_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2003_4-2) Newby-Gonzalez, Tori: *2004 Kit Aircraft Directory*, Kitplanes, Volume 20, Number 12, December 2003, page 37. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2001_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2001_5-1) Downey, Julia: *2002 Kit Aircraft Directory*, Kitplanes, Volume 18, Number 12, December 2001, page 21. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2000_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2000_6-1) Downey, Julia: *2001 Kit Aircraft Directory*, Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 12, December 2000, page 29. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_7-1) Downey, Julia: *1999 Kit Aircraft Directory*, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 37. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_8-1) Purdy, Don: *AeroCrafter – Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook*, page 117. BAI Communications. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9636409-4-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9636409-4-1)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ToucanHome_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ToucanHome_9-1) [Aero Adventure Aviation](/source/Aero_Adventure_Aviation) (n.d.). ["Toucan"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110707092105/http://www.aeroadventureinc.com/Product%20Line/Toucan.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.aeroadventureinc.com/Product%20Line/Toucan.html) on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2011_10-0)** Vandermeullen, Richard: *2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide*, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 37. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851

## External links

- [Official Aero Adventure Toucan website](https://web.archive.org/web/20110707092105/http://www.aeroadventureinc.com/Product%20Line/Toucan.html)

v t e Advanced Aviation aircraft Buccaneer Carrera Cobra Coyote Explorer Husky King Cobra Zephyr

v t e Arnet Pereyra and Aero Adventure aircraft Own designs Aventura Barracuda Toucan Pegasus Sabre Zephyr Marketed KP 2U-Sova

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Advanced Aviation Explorer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Aviation_Explorer) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Aviation_Explorer?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.