Thatcher CX4

{{Short description|American homebuilt aircraft}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Use American English|date=February 2022}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = CX4 | logo = | logo_size = | image = ThatcherCX4 2008 0823CX40007.JPG | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Homebuilt aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = Thatcher Aircraft, Inc. | design_group = | designer = David Thatcher | builder = | issuer = | status = Plans and parts available (2016) | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 55 (4/2017) | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 2004 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Thatcher CX4''' is an American-designed aircraft for amateur construction designed by David Thatcher of Pensacola, Florida and plans are supplied by Thatcher Aircraft, Inc.

Westberry Manufacturing supplies many parts and kits for the aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thatchercx4.com/parts.htm|title=Parts|work=thatchercx4.com|accessdate=2 March 2016}}</ref>

==Design and development== The CX4 is a low wing, single-seat, conventional landing gear equipped aircraft, designed to be simple to build and safe to fly. The name of the plane, CX4, is taken from an old radio show featuring Hop Harrigan, whose plane was called CX4.

The aircraft is all metal, 6061-T6 aluminium, except the cowling. The aluminum main gear legs are sourced from a Monnett Sonerai with hydraulic disc toe brakes. It has a heater and ventilation system for all season flying. The aircraft can be built with an optional 3 gal aux fuel tank. The CX4's standard specified powerplant is a Volkswagen air-cooled engine. The design load factor is 3.8 g, with an ultimate load of 5.7 g.<ref name="Specs">{{cite web|url = http://www.thatchercx4.com/specifications.htm|title = Specifications|accessdate = 10 May 2012|last = Thatcher CX4|date = May 2012}}</ref>

The CX4 first flew in 2004. As of April, 2017, there were 55 flying CX4s in Australia, Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States. The fleet had flown 3316.6 hours total.<ref name="Flying">{{cite web|url = http://www.cx4community.com/flying_CX4.htm|title = Completed and Flying|accessdate = 16 May 2017 |last = CX4 Community|date = 16 May 2017}}</ref>

==Specifications (Thatcher CX4) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Sport Aviation March 2009 |prime units?=kts  |genhide= |crew=one |capacity= |length m= |length ft=18 |length in=3 |length note= |span m= |span ft=24 |span in= |span note= |height m= |height ft=4 |height in=8 |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=84 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=520 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=850 |gross weight note= |fuel capacity=10.5 gal (39.7L){{Citation needed|date=February 2014}} |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Volkswagen |eng1 type=horizontally opposed, automotive conversion piston engine |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=65 |prop blade number=2 |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note=  |perfhide= |max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |max speed mach= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=125 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=40 |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph=155 |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft=10000 |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=825 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==See also== {{aircontent  |see also= |related= *Thatcher CX5 |similar aircraft= *BK Fliers BK-1 *Corby Starlet *Hummelbird *Hummel Ultra Cruiser *Sonex Aircraft Onex  |lists= }}

==References== {{Reflist}} *[http://www.generalaviationnews.com/digital-edition/ General Aviation News Cover Story on Thatcher CX4] *[http://www.abpic.co.uk/search.php?q=Thatcher%20CX-4&u=type/ Air-Britain : Photographic Images Collection]

==External links== {{commons category}} * [http://www.thatchercx4.com/ Thatcher CX4 home page] * [http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=9923914001 Video of CX4 in flight & interview with designer, David Thatcher]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thatcher Cx4}} Category:Homebuilt aircraft Category:2000s United States sport aircraft Category:Low-wing aircraft Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 2004

Thatcher CX4

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