Airborne T-Lite

{{Short description|Australian ultralight trike}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2022}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = T-Lite | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Ultralight trike]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[Australia]] | manufacturer = [[Airborne Windsports]] | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = In production (2013) | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''Airborne T-Lite''' is an Australian [[ultralight trike]], designed and produced by [[Airborne Windsports]] of [[Redhead, New South Wales]]. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.<ref name="WDLA11">Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 201. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X</ref>

==Design and development== The T-Lite was designed as both a cross country powered aircraft and self-launching [[motor glider]] for [[gliding|soaring]]. The aircraft was designed to comply with the [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] [[microlight]] category as well as the US [[FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles]] rules. It features a [[Flying wires|cable-braced]] [[hang glider]]-style [[high-wing]], weight-shift controls, a single-seat open cockpit, [[tricycle landing gear]] and a single engine in [[pusher configuration]].<ref name="WDLA11" />

The aircraft is made from bolted-together [[aluminium]] tubing, with its double surface [[Airborne Core]] wing covered in [[Dacron]] sailcloth, with the top surface finished in [[mylar]] PX cloth. The {{convert|9.5|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span Core wing is supported by a single tube-type [[kingpost]] and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplant is a purpose-designed, single cylinder, air-cooled, [[four-stroke]], {{convert|22|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Bailey B200]] engine, with electric starting and a 3.2:1 reduction drive. The aircraft has an empty weight of {{convert|90|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|210|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|120|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|10|L}} the payload is {{convert|113|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The permitted pilot weight range is {{convert|50|to|110|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="WDLA11" /><ref name="Specs">{{cite web|url = http://www.airborne.com.au/pages/ml_t-lite_specs.php|title = T-Lite Specifications |accessdate = 15 March 2013|last = [[Airborne Windsports]]|year = 2011}}</ref>

The T-Lite is designed to be quickly disassembled for ground transport. The {{convert|10|L}} fuel tank is located behind the pilot's seat and can be disconnected quickly to allow transporting it independently of the aircraft for refueling.<ref name="WDLA11" />

==Specifications (T-Lite) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Bayerl and Airborne Windsports<ref name="WDLA11" /><ref name="Specs" /> |prime units?=met  |genhide=

|crew=one |capacity= |length m=2.2 |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m=9.5 |span ft= |span in= |span note= |height m=3.4 |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm=15.6 |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg=90 |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg=210 |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |fuel capacity={{convert|10|L}} |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Bailey B200]] |eng1 type=single cylinder, air-cooled, [[four stroke]] [[aircraft engine]] |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=22

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh=58 |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh=32 |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh=85 |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km=239 |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= +4/0g (flight limits) +6/-3g (ultimate load limits) |roll rate= |glide ratio=7.82:1 |climb rate ms=1.6 |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms=1.6 |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.airborne.com.au/pages/ml_t-lite.php}} {{Airborne Windsports aircraft}}

[[Category:2000s Australian sport aircraft]] [[Category:2000s Australian ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:Homebuilt aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft]] [[Category:Ultralight trikes]]