| Pixel | |
|---|---|
| Role | Ultralight trike |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Air Creation |
| Status | In production (2018) |
The Air Creation Pixel is a French ultralight trike, designed and produced by Air Creation of Aubenas. The aircraft is supplied complete and ready-to-fly or as a kit for amateur construction.[1]
Design and development
The Pixel was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules and the German 120 kg class. The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 95 kg (209 lb).[1]
The aircraft design features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a single-seat open cockpit without a cockpit fairing, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1]
The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminium tubing, with its double surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 8.8 m (28.9 ft) span iFun 13 wing has an area of 13 m2 (140 sq ft), is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplant is a single-cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, single-ignition 36 hp (27 kW) Polini Thor 250 engine.[1]
The aircraft has an empty weight of 95 kg (209 lb) and a gross weight of 250 kg (551 lb), giving a useful load of 155 kg (342 lb). With full fuel of 16 litres (3.5 imp gal; 4.2 US gal) the payload is 144 kg (317 lb) for pilot and baggage.[1]
A number of different wings can be fitted to the basic carriage, although the purpose-designed iFun 13 is standard. That wing is available as a "short pack" with optional rigid struts to facilitate hangar storage folded with the wing remaining on the trike carriage. The iFun 13 has a speed range of 41 to 110 km/h (25 to 68 mph).[1][2]
The Pixel is available in the XC model, which includes a windshield, instrument panel, electric starter, hand throttle, canvas siding and baggage storage compartment. A pneumatic ballistic parachute is optional and adds 4 kg (9 lb) to the empty weight.[1][2]
Specifications (iFun 13 Pixel XC)
Data from Tacke and manufacturer[1][2]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Wingspan: 8.8 m (28 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 13 m2 (140 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 95 kg (209 lb)
- Gross weight: 250 kg (551 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 16 litres (3.5 imp gal; 4.2 US gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Polini Thor 250 single-cylinder, air-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 27 kW (36 hp)
- Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch
Performance
- Maximum speed: 110 km/h (68 mph, 59 kn)
- Cruise speed: 80 km/h (50 mph, 43 kn)
- Stall speed: 43 km/h (27 mph, 23 kn)
- g limits: +6/-3
- Rate of climb: 4 m/s (790 ft/min)
- Wing loading: 19.2 kg/m2 (3.9 lb/sq ft)