World Aircraft Spirit

{{Infobox aircraft | name = Spirit | logo = | logo_size = | image = WAC-Spirit.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Amateur-built aircraft<br />Light-sport aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = Colombia/United States | manufacturer = World Aircraft Company | design_group = | designer = Max Tedesco | builder = | issuer = | status = Production anticipated for 2014 | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 55 (2011) | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = 2011 | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = AeroAndina MXP-150 Kimbaya | variants = World Aircraft Vision | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''World Aircraft Spirit''' is a Colombian/American amateur-built aircraft, designed by Max Tedesco and produced by World Aircraft Company. The aircraft was publicly introduced at AirVenture in 2011 and production is expected to commence in 2014. It is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly aircraft.<ref name="KitplanesDec2011">Vandermeullen, Richard: ''2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide'', Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 76. Belvoir Publications. {{ISSN|0891-1851}}</ref><ref name="EAA">{{cite news|url = http://www.eaa.org/lightplaneworld/articles/1107_spirit.asp|title = World Aircraft to Introduce Spirit LSA at AirVenture 2011|accessdate = 19 November 2012|last = EAA Staff |year = 2011| work = Experimental Aircraft Association}}</ref><ref name="Niles17Jan14">{{cite news|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/World-Aircraft-Ready-To-Launch221282-1.html|title = World Aircraft Ready To Launch|accessdate = 17 January 2014|last = Niles|first = Russ|date = 17 January 2014| work = AVweb}}</ref>

==Design and development== The Spirit features a strut-braced high-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit that is {{convert|48|in|cm|0|abbr=on}} wide, fixed tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.<ref name="KitplanesDec2011" />

The aircraft is made from aluminum sheet. Its {{convert|32.9|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing has an area of {{convert|132|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} and mounts flaps. The wing is supported by "V" struts and jury struts. The aircraft's recommended engine power range is {{convert|100|to|130|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} and standard engines used include the {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 912ULS, {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Continental O-200 and the {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Lycoming IO-233 four-stroke powerplants.<ref name="KitplanesDec2011" /><ref name="EAA" />

The aircraft has a design maximum gross weight of {{convert|1653|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, but is restricted to {{convert|1320|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} if flown in the US light-sport aircraft category.<ref name="Specs">{{cite web|url = http://www.worldaircraftco.com/spirit/|title = Spirit|accessdate = 19 November 2012|last = World Aircraft Company|author-link = World Aircraft Company|year = 2012}}</ref>

The Spirit airframe is constructed in Colombia and then shipped to World Aircraft's facility at Henry County Airport in Paris, Tennessee for final assembly and paint. Kits shipped are fully assembled and then disassembled for customer delivery and may be shipped painted as well. Construction time from the supplied kit is estimated as 110 hours.<ref name="KitplanesDec2011" /><ref name="EAA" /><ref name="Specs" />

As of October 2012, the design appears on the Federal Aviation Administration's list of approved special light-sport aircraft.<ref name="FAASLSA">{{cite web|url = http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/gen_av/light_sport/media/SLSA_Directory.xls|title = SLSA Make/Model Directory|accessdate = 20 November 2012|last = Federal Aviation Administration|author-link = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 12 October 2012}}</ref>

==Operational history== By December 2011 55 examples had been completed and flown.<ref name="KitplanesDec2011" />

==Specifications (Spirit) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Kitplanes, World Aircraft Company and AVweb<ref name="KitplanesDec2011" /><ref name="Niles17Jan14" /><ref name="Specs" /> |prime units?=imp  |genhide=

|crew=one |capacity=one passenger |length m= |length ft=22 |length in=3 |length note= |span m= |span ft=32 |span in=10 |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=132 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=728 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=1320 |gross weight note=light-sport aircraft version, {{convert|1653|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} for other versions |fuel capacity={{convert|24|u.s.gal}} |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Rotax 912ULS |eng1 type=four cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=100

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=115 |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=143 |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles=600 |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio=10.5:1 |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=950 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft=10.0 |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics=*Garmin panel *autopilot *ADS-B }}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{Official website|http://www.worldaircraftco.com/spirit/}} {{World Aircraft Company aircraft}}

Category:Homebuilt aircraft Category:Light-sport aircraft Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft

World Aircraft Spirit

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