# Capella XS

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American ultralight aircraft

Capella XS family General information Type Kit aircraft National origin United States Manufacturer Capella Aircraft Corporation Status Production completed History Introduction date 1988

The **Capella XS** is a family of [American](/source/United_States) high wing, [tractor configuration](/source/Tractor_configuration), cabin aircraft that were produced in kit form by [Capella Aircraft](/source/Capella_Aircraft) of [Austin, Texas](/source/Austin%2C_Texas) and intended for [amateur construction](/source/Homebuilt_aircraft).[1][2]

Capella Aircraft went out of business in late 2007, and the series is no longer in production.

## Design and development

The single seat *SS* model was introduced in 1988. All members of the design family were available as optionally [conventional landing gear](/source/Conventional_landing_gear) or [tricycle gear](/source/Tricycle_gear)-equipped aircraft.[1][2]

The family of aircraft all share common design features, including an enclosed cabin-style [fuselage](/source/Fuselage), [horizontal stabilizer](/source/Horizontal_stabilizer) and [tail fin](/source/Vertical_stabilizer) all constructed of welded [4130 steel](/source/4130_steel) tubing. The wing is framed from riveted [aluminium](/source/Aluminium) tubing with all surfaces covered in doped [aircraft fabric](/source/Aircraft_fabric). The wing includes [flaps](/source/Flap_(aircraft)) and has an optional folding system for transport and storage.[1][2]

The landing gear arrangement includes sprung-steel main gear and a similarly sprung steerable tail wheel or optional sprung-steel nose wheel.[1][2]

The single-seat SS model was developed into a line of side-by-side two seaters with different engine and fuselage designs.[1][2]

## Variants

**SS**
- Single seat cabin light aircraft with a gross weight of 625 lb (283 kg) and powered by a 40 hp (30 kW) [Rotax 447](/source/Rotax_447) or a 50 hp (37 kW) [Rotax 503](/source/Rotax_503) engine. The fuselage incorporates a rear window. First flown in 1988.[1][2]

**XS**
- Two seats in side-by-side configuration cabin light aircraft with a gross weight of 1,200 lb (544 kg) and powered by a 64 hp (48 kW) [Rotax 582](/source/Rotax_582) engine. The fuselage incorporates a rear window. First flown in 1990.[1][2]

**XLS**
- Two seats in side-by-side configuration cabin light aircraft with a gross weight of 1,200 lb (544 kg) and powered by an 80 hp (60 kW) [Rotax 912](/source/Rotax_912) four-stroke engine. The fuselage incorporates a rear window. First flown in 1990.[1][2]

**XLS Super 100**
- Two seats in side-by-side configuration cabin light aircraft with a gross weight of 1,270 lb (576 kg) and powered by a 100 hp (75 kW) [Rotax 912S](/source/Rotax_912S) four-stroke engine. Available in *TR* tricycle gear and *TD* taildragger models. The fuselage incorporates a rear window.[3]

**Fastback**
- Two seats in side-by-side configuration cabin light aircraft with a gross weight of 1,200 lb (544 kg) and powered by an 80 hp (60 kW) [Rotax 912](/source/Rotax_912) four-stroke engine. First flown in 1995. Fuselage differs from the XS in that the rear window is eliminated and replaced with a high rear [turtle deck](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Turtle_deck&action=edit&redlink=1), rendering the aircraft similar in appearance to a [Piper J-3 Cub](/source/Piper_J-3_Cub), [Aeronca Champ](/source/Aeronca_Champ) or [Taylorcraft B](/source/Taylorcraft_B).[1][2]

## Specifications (XS)

*Data from* Kitplanes and Purdy[1][2]

**General characteristics**

- **Crew:** one

- **Capacity:** one passenger

- **Length:** 18 ft 5 in (5.61 m)

- **Wingspan:** 28 ft 6 in (8.69 m)

- **Height:** 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)

- **Wing area:** 114 sq ft (10.6 m2)

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

- **Gross weight:** 1,200 lb (544 kg)

- **Fuel capacity:** 11 US gallons (42 litres)

- **Powerplant:** 1 × [Rotax 582](/source/Rotax_582) twin cylinder, [two-stroke](/source/Two-stroke) aircraft engine, 64 hp (48 kW)

**Performance**

- **Maximum speed:** 135 mph (217 km/h, 117 kn)

- **Cruise speed:** 111 mph (179 km/h, 96 kn)

- **Stall speed:** 41 mph (66 km/h, 36 kn) 36 mph in landing configuration, flaps down.

- **Range:** 275 mi (443 km, 239 nmi)

- **Service ceiling:** 10,000 ft (3,000 m)

- **Rate of climb:** 1,200 ft/min (6.1 m/s)

## See also

**Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era**

- [Murphy Rebel](/source/Murphy_Rebel)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_1-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_1-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_1-9) Downey, Julia: *1999 Kit Aircraft Directory*, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 40. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_2-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_2-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_2-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_2-9) Purdy, Don: *AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook*, page 136-7. BAI Communications. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9636409-4-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9636409-4-1)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Super100_3-0)** Capella Aircraft (2004). ["Capella XLS Super 100"](http://www.capellakitplanes.com/capella/xstrs.htm). Retrieved May 9, 2010.

v t e Capella Aircraft Aircraft Fastback Javelin I Javelin II SS T-Raptor XLS XS

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