AX2000
A HKS 700E powered AX2000
Role microlight
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Cyclone Airsports Ltd
First flight c.1997
Number built at least 29
Developed from Cyclone AX3

The Cyclone AX2000 is a British built three axis microlight, first flown in the 1990s. It seats two in side-by-side configuration.

Design and development

The AX2000 is a development of the earlier Cyclone AX3,[1] a UK regulation compliant variant of the French Ultralair Premier AX3. This, in turn, was a three axis development of the US Chotia Weedhopper from the early 1980s.[2]

The Cyclone AX2000 is an aluminium tube framed three axis microlight with flying surfaces covered with a polyester fabric with outer PVF lamination (URLAM). The whole aircraft is built around a long, high aluminium keel boom, which bears the engine, wings and empennage. The wing is a two spar structure, with surfaces formed by upper and lower battens rather than ribs. It carries conventional, full span, tapering ailerons but no flaps.[1] The tailplane is mounted on the keel and has an anti-balance/trim tab on the starboard elevator.[1][3] There is a small fixed fin below the keel but none above; the rudder is balanced and extends below the elevators, moving in a cut-out.[3]

The short, deep fuselage is built around a wire braced tube beam. Lift and landing loads are taken by V-shaped, cross braced pairs of lift struts from the bottom of the fuselage to each wing, assisted by a centre line strut to the boom at the wing leading edge. The cockpit enclosure is non-structural, with forward opening doors to a pair of side-by-side seats. These are equipped with separate rudder pedals but the occupants share a central control column. The AX2000 has a tricycle undercarriage mounted close to the fuselage.[1]

The engine is mounted, uncowled, ahead and above the wing leading edge, with the propeller shaft on the boom line. One of three engines may be fitted: a 48 kW (64 hp) Rotax 582/48 or 38 kW (51 hp) 503 2V, both upright twin cylinder two strokes, or the 45 kW (60 hp) HKS 700E (either V3 or Beta variants), flat twin four stroke.[3] Both Rotax engines drive propellers with ground adjustable pitch: the 582 has a three blade, composite propeller and the 503 a two blade wooden one.[1]

As well the new engines, the AX2000 differs chiefly from the AX3 in having a completely double surface wing of reduced area and modified structure, a change of alloy for the main keel beam, a revised and lightened fuselage with new undercarriage, an increased fuel capacity and the addition of an elevator anti-balance trim tab.[1]

The AX2000 is certificated as a glider tug, for gliders of class 1 and 2. A V-shaped forward tow line extension joins the main line to a pair of tug pillars attached to the rear spar on the under surfaces of the AX2000's wing.[1]

Operational history

In mid-2011 there were 29 AX2000s on the UK civil aircraft register.[4]

Variants

Cyclone AX-3
Production by Cyclone Airsports with either a Rotax 502 or Rotax 582 engine.
Pegasus AX2000
Improved variant produced by Pegasus Aircraft from 1996.

Specifications

Data from Civil Aircraft Authority microlight type approval data sheet (TADS) no.BM53 issue 9[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 5.60 m (18 ft 4 in)
  • Wingspan: 9.10 m (29 ft 10 in)
  • Height: 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in)
  • Wing area: 15.77 m2 (169.7 sq ft) [1]
  • Empty weight: 201 kg (443 lb) notional
  • Max takeoff weight: 450 kg (992 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 62 L

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 100 km/h (62 mph, 54 kn) manoeuvring
  • Stall speed: 58 km/h (36 mph, 31 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 140 km/h (90 mph, 78 kn)


References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cyclone AX2000.
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "CAA airworthiness approval note - Cyclone AX2000" (PDF). Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  2. ↑ "CAA airworthiness approval note - Cyclone AX3" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "CAA TADS for Cyclone AX2000" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  4. ↑ "CAA registrations of Cyclone AX2000". Retrieved 24 August 2011.
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