Rainbow Cheetah

{{Short description|South African ultralight aircraft}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Use South African English|date=December 2022}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Cheetah | logo = | logo_size = | image = Rainbow Cheetah XLS N150RC.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Ultralight aircraft]] and [[Light-sport aircraft]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[South Africa]] | manufacturer = [[Rainbow Aircraft]] | design_group = | designer = Vladimir Chechin | builder = | issuer = | status = In production (2012) | 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 = [[Best Off Skyranger]] | variants = [[Rainbow Cheetah XLS]] | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''Rainbow Cheetah''' is a South African [[ultralight aircraft|ultralight]] and [[light-sport aircraft]], designed by Vladimir Chechin and produced by [[Rainbow Aircraft]]. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for [[Homebuilt aircraft|amateur construction]] or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.<ref name="WDLA11">Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 72. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X</ref>

==Design and development== The aircraft was derived from the [[Best Off Skyranger]]<ref name="WDLA11" /> and designed to comply with Canadian [[Advanced Ultralight]] criteria and the US light-sport aircraft rules. It features a [[strut-braced]] [[high-wing]], a two-seats-in-[[side-by-side configuration]] enclosed cockpit with optional doors for access, fixed [[tricycle landing gear]] or optionally [[conventional landing gear]] and a single engine in [[tractor configuration]].<ref name="WDLA11" /><ref name="SLSA">{{cite web|url = http://www.sportpilot.org/learn/slsa/|title = EAA's Listing of Special Light-Sport Aircraft|accessdate = 1 June 2012|last = [[Experimental Aircraft Association]]|year = 2012|url-status = dead|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140228070151/http://sportpilot.org/learn/slsa|archivedate = 28 February 2014}}</ref>

The aircraft is made from bolted-together [[aluminum]] tubing, with its flying surfaces covered in [[Dacron]] sailcloth. Its {{convert|9.6|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has an area of {{convert|13.25|m2|sqft|abbr=on}} and mounts [[Flap (aircraft)|flaps]]. 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]] and the {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 912ULS]] [[four-stroke]] powerplants.<ref name="WDLA11" />

The Cheetah XLS has been accepted by [[Transport Canada]] as an Advanced Ultralight as both a land plane and [[seaplane]], powered by the Rotax 582 two-stroke, the Rotax 912UL, the Rotax 912ULS, the [[Verner VM133]] and the {{convert|85|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Jabiru 2200A]] engines.<ref name="AULA">{{cite web|url = http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/standards/general-ccarcs-advancedullist-2036.htm|title = Listing of Models Eligible to be Registered as Advanced Ultra-Light Aeroplanes (AULA)|accessdate = 27 August 2012|last = [[Transport Canada]]|date = 15 August 2012}}</ref>

==Operational history== By August 2012 there were three Cheetahs on the [[Federal Aviation Administration]] registry and two on the [[Transport Canada]] Civil Aircraft Register.<ref name="FAAReg">{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=CHEETAH&PageNo=1|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|accessdate = 27 August 2012|last = [[Federal Aviation Administration]]|date = 27 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="TCCAR">{{cite web|url = http://wwwapps2.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/ccarcs/aspscripts/en/quicksearch.asp|title = Canadian Civil Aircraft Register|accessdate = 27 August 2012|last = [[Transport Canada]]|date = 27 August 2012|url-status = dead|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110718042755/http://wwwapps2.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/ccarcs/aspscripts/en/quicksearch.asp|archivedate = 18 July 2011}}</ref>

==Variants== ;Cheetah XLS :Current production model (2012) with tricycle landing gear.<ref name="WDLA11" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rainbowaircraft.co.za/Products.html/3_axis_microlights.html/cheetah_xls.html/cheetah_xls.html |title=Rainbow Aircraft Cheetah XLS |publisher=Rainbowaircraft.co.za |accessdate=2012-08-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724104848/http://www.rainbowaircraft.co.za/Products.html/3_axis_microlights.html/cheetah_xls.html/cheetah_xls.html |archivedate=2012-07-24 }}</ref> ;Cheetah XLS Taildragger :Current production model (2012) with conventional landing gear.<ref name="WDLA11" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rainbowaircraft.co.za/Products.html/3_axis_microlights.html/cheetah_xls_taildragger.html/cheetah_xls_taildragger.html |title=Rainbow Aircraft Cheetah XLS Taildragger |publisher=Rainbowaircraft.co.za |accessdate=2012-08-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724105013/http://www.rainbowaircraft.co.za/Products.html/3_axis_microlights.html/cheetah_xls_taildragger.html/cheetah_xls_taildragger.html |archivedate=2012-07-24 }}</ref>

==Specifications (Cheetah XLS) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Bayerl and manufacturer<ref name="WDLA11" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rainbowaircraft.co.za/Products.html/specification.html/specification.html |title=Raindow Aircraft Cheetah XLS Specifications |publisher=Rainbowaircraft.co.za |accessdate=2012-08-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724104946/http://www.rainbowaircraft.co.za/Products.html/specification.html/specification.html |archivedate=2012-07-24 }}</ref> |prime units?=met  |genhide=

|crew=one |capacity=one passenger |length m=5.67 |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m=9.6 |span ft= |span in= |span note= |height m=1.9 |height ft= |height in= |height note=to top of wing |wing area sqm=13.25 |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio=7.01 |airfoil= |empty weight kg=248 |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg=560 |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |fuel capacity={{convert|100|L}} |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Rotax 912UL]] |eng1 type=four cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, [[four stroke]] [[aircraft engine]] |eng1 kw=60 |eng1 hp=

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=177 |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh=135 |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=35 |stall speed kts= |stall speed note=flaps down |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph=125 |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles=670 |range nmi= |range note=with reserves |endurance=7.5 hours |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits=+6g/-4g |roll rate= |glide ratio=10:1 |climb rate ms=5.3 |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2=42.3 |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commonscat|Rainbow Skyreach Cheetah}} *{{Official website|http://www.rainbowaircraft.co.za/}} {{Rainbow Aircraft}}

[[Category:2000s South African ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:Homebuilt aircraft]] [[Category:Light-sport aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]