Avid Champion

{{Short description|American ultralight aircraft}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use American English|date=January 2022}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Avid Champion | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Ultralight aircraft]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[United States]] | manufacturer = [[Avid Aircraft]] | design_group = | designer = Dean Wilson | builder = | issuer = | status = Kits no longer available after November 2003 | 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 = 1998 | retired = | first_flight = 1998 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = [[Avid Mark IV]] | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Avid Champion''' is an American single-seat, [[high-wing]] [[ultralight aircraft]] that was produced starting in 1998 as a [[Homebuilt aircraft|kit]] by [[Avid Aircraft]] of [[Caldwell, Idaho]], later [[Ennis, Montana]].<ref name="Cliche">Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page B-12. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec1998">Downey, Julia: ''1999 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 38. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="Bethea2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.ultraflight.com/issues/july2001/july01page26.htm |title=Avid Aviates Again |accessdate=2009-09-26 |last=Bethea |first=Jim |year=2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805152114/http://www.ultraflight.com/issues/july2001/july01page26.htm |archivedate=2009-08-05 }}</ref>

Avid Aircraft went out of business in November 2003, and the aircraft kits are no longer available.<ref name="Avweb16Nov03">{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/onthefly/186096-1.html|title = On the Fly|accessdate = 2009-09-26|last = Niles|first = Russ|authorlink = |date=November 2003}}</ref>

==Development== The Champion was created by scaling down the [[Avid Mark IV]] and narrowing the wider [[fuselage]] into a single-seat design intended to comply with the US [[Ultralight aircraft (United States)|FAR 103 ''Ultralight Vehicles'']] category.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="champion_2004_01_10_bydanjohnson">Johnson, Dan: [https://bydanjohnson.com/pilotreport/champion-ultralight/ "Champion Ultralight"], January 10, 2004, ''Light Sport and Ultralight Flying,'' retrieved from the author's website September 1, 2023</ref>

The design is a conventional [[tractor configuration]], featuring tube and [[aircraft fabric]] construction. The factory-welded fuselage uses 4130 chromoly steel tubing. The aluminum wing spars are predrilled and die-drawn, to support prebuilt birch [[plywood]] ribs, covered with doped [[Dacron]] fabric. The cockpit is usually left uncovered.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="Bethea2007" /><ref name="champion_2004_01_10_bydanjohnson" />

The main landing gear is [[bungee cord|bungee]]-suspended and includes a steerable [[conventional landing gear|tailwheel]]. Like other Avid designs, the wing has an under-cambered [[airfoil]], [[Junkers]] style [[ailerons]] and scalloped [[trailing edge]]s. The wing can be folded for storage and the aircraft can be towed on its wheels behind a car. The wing folding mechanism does not include automatic connecting ailerons. The cockpit will accommodate a pilot up to {{convert|6.5|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} in height and {{convert|300|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} in weight. Two door options were originally available, a [[Piper J-3 Cub]]-style horizontally split door or an overhead-hinged door.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="Bethea2007" /><ref name="champion_2004_01_10_bydanjohnson" />

The Champion only meets the US FAR 103 ultralight vehicle category maximum empty weight limit of {{convert|254|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, with the lightest of single cylinder, [[two-stroke]] engines installed, such as the {{convert|28|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 277]] and the removal of the cowling, brakes, doors and most of the instruments. When the kit was available, the company did not provide an engine for it, leaving the choice of engines and compliance with FAR 103 restrictions up to the owner. The standard empty weight with the {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 447]] powerplant was {{convert|284|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. The aircraft qualifies as an amateur-built in many countries including the US and [[Canada]].<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="champion_2004_01_10_bydanjohnson" />

Building time to complete the kit was reported by the company to be 160 hours. When the aircraft was introduced in 1998, the kit cost was [[United States Dollar|US$]]8995, without an engine. Complete airframes, also without an engine, were available for US$12,995.<ref name="KitplanesDec1998" />

==Operational history== Andre Cliche's flight review of the Champion describes it as "light and responsive" and "agile", but cautions that the Junkers full-span ailerons produce high roll rates and high [[adverse yaw]]. He also indicated that "the overall responsiveness and taildragger reactions might tax beginners' capabilities."<ref name="Cliche" /> Ultralight reviewer [[Dan Johnson (baseball)|Dan Johnson]] concurred.<ref name="champion_2004_01_10_bydanjohnson" />

Jim Bethea of ''UltraFlight magazine'' said: "The Champion is arguably the best fixed-wing ultralight available and perhaps the most overlooked."<ref name="Bethea2007" />

With the [[Rotax 447]] engine, the aircraft can take-off in under {{convert|100|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}, as one owner explained: "You'd better be ready when you advance the throttle because the plane will jump off the ground within the next three seconds!" Landings in crosswinds have been described as "easy with a forward slip and touchdown on one main wheel". A full rudder slip will produce a descent rate of 2000 feet per minute (10 m/s).<ref name="Bethea2007" />

Because the choice of engine installed was left up to the builder, a variety of engines has been used, including the Rotax 277, 447 and the {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 503]].<ref name="Bethea2007" />

==Specifications (Champion with Rotax 277) ==

{{Aircraft specs |prime units? = imp |ref=Cliche & KitPlanes<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="KitplanesDec1998" /> |crew=one |capacity= 340 lb (154 kg); no passengers |length ft= 17.6 |length m=5.37 |span ft=26.8 |span m=8.17 |height ft=6 |height m=1.83 |wing area sqft= 114.5 |wing area sqm= 10.65 |empty weight lb= 254 |empty weight kg= 115 |max takeoff weight lb= 594 |max takeoff weight kg= 269 |eng1 name=[[Rotax 277]] |eng1 number=1 |eng1 hp= 28 |eng1 kw=21 |max speed mph= 65 |max speed kmh=105 |cruise speed mph= 63 |cruise speed kmh=102 |stall speed mph= 26 |stall speed kmh= 42 |range miles= 104 |range km=168 |ceiling ft= 9000 |ceiling m= 2745 |climb rate ftmin= 700 |climb rate ms= 3.6 |wing loading lb/sqft=5.19 |wing loading kg/m2=25.26 |power/mass=21.21 lb/hp (0.078 kW/kg) }}

==See also== {{aircontent |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= *[[Aero-Works Aerolite 103]] *[[Beaujon Mach .07]] *[[Beaujon Enduro]] *[[Birdman Chinook|Birdman WT-11 Chinook]] *[[Dart Skycycle]] *[[Fisher FP-202 Koala]] *[[Fisher FP-505 Skeeter]] *[[Fisher FP-606 Sky Baby]] *[[Freebird I]] *[[ISON Airbike]] *[[Denney Kitfox|Skystar Kitfox Lite]] *[[Spectrum Beaver|Spectrum RX-28 Beaver]] *[[Wood Sky Pup]] |lists= }}

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Avid Aircraft aircraft|Champion]] [[Category:1990s United States ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1998]] [[Category:High-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]]