Normand Dube Aerocruiser

Aerocruiser
Norman Dube Aerocruiser on straight skis
Role Homebuilt utility monoplane
National origin Canada
Manufacturer Aviation Normand Dube
Designer Normand Dube
First flight 1985
Status In production (2017)
Number built 100+ kits
Variants Norman Dube Aerocruiser Plus
Norman Dube Aerocruiser 450 Turbo

The Normand Dube Aerocruiser is a Canadian single-engined, two-seat bushplane designed by Normand Dube and supplied as a kit for homebuilding by Aviation Normand Dube of Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, Quebec.[1][2][3]

Design and development

The Aerocruiser 912 is a high-wing braced monoplane with a fixed tailwheel landing gear, the wheels can be quickly changed to skis if required. It has a welded steel tube fuselage and metal aluminium riveted wings and can take a variety of mainly Rotax piston engines. The aircraft has a gross weight of 1,232 lb (559 kg) and is powered by a 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS engine, for the Canadian advanced ultralight category.[1][2][3]

The design has been developed into Aerocruiser Plus, a four-seat version with a gross weight of 2,200 lb (998 kg) powered by a 180 hp (134 kW) Lycoming O-360 engine and the Aerocruiser 450 Turbo, a six-seat version with a gross weight of 4,650 lb (2,109 kg) powered by a 450 hp (336 kW) Lycoming TIGO-541 engine.[2][3]

Operational history

By March 2017, 56 examples had been registered with Transport Canada and one in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.[4][5]

Specifications (Aerocruiser 912S)

Norman Dube Aerocruiser on wheel-skis

Data from World Directory of Leisure Aviation[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Wingspan: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
  • Wing area: 160 sq ft (15 m2)
  • Empty weight: 529 lb (240 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,235 lb (560 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912ULS horizontally-opposed, four-cylinder, piston engine, 100 hp (75 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 115 mph (185 km/h, 100 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 85 mph (136 km/h, 73 kn)
  • Stall speed: 32 mph (52 km/h, 28 kn)
  • Rate of climb: 1,200 ft/min (6 m/s)

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2005, p 141.
  2. ^ a b c Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 94. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. ^ a b c Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 99. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  4. ^ Transport Canada (31 March 2017). "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register". Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  5. ^ Federal Aviation Administration (31 March 2017). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved 31 March 2017.

Bibliography

  • World Directory of Leisure Aviation. Ivy-sur-Seine, France: Editions Retine. 2005–2006. ISSN 1368-485X.
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