{{Short description|Aircraft}} __NOTOC__ {{for|the 1940s American light plane|Commonwealth Skyranger}} {{for|the wheeled anti-aircraft systems|Skyranger 30|Skyranger 35}} {{Infobox aircraft |name = Skyranger <!--please avoid stating manufacturer in this field; it's stated three lines below --> |logo = <!--ONLY for an individual logo of the aircraft model, (NOT the main manufacturer logo)--> |image = BestOffAviationSkyrangerC-ICBD02.jpg<!--in the ''image:filename'' format, no image tags--> |caption = Best Off Aviation Skyranger on skis at Montebello, Quebec 2005<!--image caption; if it isn't descriptive it should be left blank--> |type = Ultralight aircraft |manufacturer = Best Off Aviation |designer = <!--only appropriate for single designers, not project leaders--> |first_flight = <!--if it hasn't happened, leave it out!--> |introduction = 1990<!--date the aircraft entered or will enter military or revenue service--> |retired = <!--date the aircraft left military or revenue service. If vague or multiples, it probably should be skipped--> |status = <!--in most cases, this field is redundant; use it sparingly--> |primary_user = <!--please list only one user – for military aircraft, the user is a nation or a service arm. Do NOT add those tiny flags as they limit horizontal space.--> |more_users = <!--limited to three "more users" total; please separate with <br/>--> |produced = <!--years in production, e.g. 1970-1999, if still in active use but no longer built--> |number_built = about 900 |program cost= <!-- total program cost. --> |unit cost = <!-- incremental or flyaway cost for military aircraft or retail price for commercial aircraft. --> |developed_from = <!-- the aircraft which formed the basis for the topic type --> |variants = Best Off Nynja<br />Rainbow Cheetah<br />Synairgie Jet Ranger }}
[[File:BestOffAviationSkyrangerN816402.jpg|thumb|Best Off Aviation Skyranger being tied down at Sun 'n Fun 2006]]
thumb|Skyranger cockpit with optional extended panel
The '''Best Off Skyranger''' (also '''Sky Ranger''', '''SkyRanger''') is a French-designed two-seat ultralight utility aircraft, produced by Best Off, of Toulouse. It is a high-wing conventional monoplane with tricycle undercarriage, and of fabric-covered tubular construction.<ref name="JAWA03 p118" /><ref name="WDLA11">Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 33. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X</ref>
The Skyranger is also manufactured under licence by Aero Bravo in Brazil, SkyRanger Aircraft in the United States (as a kit), Aeros in Ukraine and at least 150 were built by Synairgie in France, too.<ref name="Aerocrafter">Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition'', page 265. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}</ref> Because of the aircraft being manufactured by many companies, names such as '''Aeros Skyranger''', '''Synairgie Skyranger''' etc. are used for the aircraft.
Some 900 are flying throughout the world.<ref name="JAWA03 p118" />
==Variants== ;Skyranger :Original model, introduced 1990.<ref name="WDLA11" /> ;Skyranger Vfun :Renamed original model for the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight class. Standard engines available are the {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 582 two-stroke, the {{convert|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 912UL, the {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 912ULS, {{convert|85|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Jabiru 2200, the {{convert|60|to|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} VW and the {{convert|60|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} HKS 700E four-stroke powerplants. The aircraft has also been equipped with the JLT Motors Ecoyota engine.<ref name="WDLA11" /><ref>{{cite web|url = http://ecoyota.neuf.fr/Page_1x.html/|title = Le Nouveau Moteur 4 Temps Pour Ulm|accessdate = 15 March 2018|author = JLT Motors|work = ecoyota.neuf.fr|year = 2007|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081014121101/http://ecoyota.neuf.fr/Page_1x.html/|archivedate = 14 October 2008|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref name="WDLA15">Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: ''World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16'', page 34. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}</ref> ;Skyranger Vmax :Improved model for United Kingdom BCAR Section "S" certification, with ventral fin. Standard engines available are the {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 582 two-stroke, the {{convert|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 912UL, the {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 912ULS, {{convert|85|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Jabiru 2200, the {{convert|60|to|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} VW and the {{convert|60|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} HKS 700E four-stroke powerplants.<ref name="WDLA11" /><ref name="WDLA15"/> ;Skyranger Swift :Improved model based on the Vmax for the US light-sport aircraft market, with reduced wingspan.<ref name="Swift">{{cite web|url = http://www.bestoffaircraft.com/index.php/en/skyranger-swift|title = Skyranger Swift|accessdate = 12 May 2012|last = Best Off|author-link = Best Off|year = 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110903095358/http://www.bestoffaircraft.com/index.php/en/skyranger-swift|archive-date = 3 September 2011|url-status = dead}}</ref> ;Reusable Bomber Drones :On 26 April 2024, 6 photos surfaced online, taken somewhere in Russia, which appeared to show a crashed Skyranger Swift 2 fitted with a single OFAB-100-120 bomb. Along with other equipment to allow for it to become a “remotely piloted bomber”. Skyranger had been contacted and said it could be an existing aircraft or one built from a kit worth $55,000.00. Ukraine has previously modified a Aeroprakt A-22 Foxbat into a kamikaze drone.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.twz.com/news-features/ukraine-appears-to-be-using-light-planes-converted-into-reusable-bomber-drones|author= HOWARD ALTMAN |title = Ukraine Appears To Be Using Light Planes Converted Into Reusable Bomber Drones|website=TWZ |access-date = 28 April 2024|date= 26 April 2024}}</ref>
==Specifications (Skyranger)== {{Aircraft specs |prime units?=met |ref=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004<ref name="JAWA03 p118">Jackson 2003, p. 118.</ref> |crew= one pilot |capacity= one passenger |length m= 5.50 |length ft= |length in= |span m= 9.50 |span ft= |span in= |height m= 2.00 |height ft= |height in= |wing area sqm= 14.10 |wing area sqft= |empty weight kg= 250 |empty weight lb= |max takeoff weight kg= 560 |max takeoff weight lb= |fuel capacity={{convert|50|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}} |eng1 name=Rotax 912UL |eng1 type= flat-four |eng1 number=1 |eng1 kw= 59.6 |eng1 hp= |cruise speed kmh=150 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed note=(max cruise) |never exceed speed kmh= 195 |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed mph= |stall speed kmh= 64 |stall speed kts= |stall speed mph= |stall speed note=(flaps down) |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=900 }}
==See also==
=== Comparable aircraft === * Ikarus C42 * Raj Hamsa X-Air "H" Hanuman
{{aircontent| |related= |similar aircraft= |sequence= |lists= |see also= }}
==Notes== {{Reflist}}
==References== * Jackson, Paul. ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004''. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. {{ISBN|0-7106-2537-5}}.
==External links== {{commons category|Best Off Skyranger}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120702014053/http://www.bestoffaircraft.com/ Official website]
{{Best Off aircraft}} {{Aero Bravo aircraft}} {{Aeros aircraft}} {{Synairgie aircraft}} {{Aero Synergie aircraft}}
Category:1990s French civil utility aircraft Category:1990s French ultralight aircraft Skyranger Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft Category:High-wing aircraft Category:Aero Bravo aircraft Category:Aeros aircraft Category:Aero Synergie aircraft Sky Ranger Category:Aircraft first flown in 1990 Category:Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear Category:Single-engined piston aircraft