Edgley Optica (source: Edgley Aircraft)

The Edgley EA-7 Optica was a British light aircraft designed for observation work, intended as as a low-cost alternative to helicopters, retailing originally at around US$200,000. Image File history File links G-BGMW.jpg Edgley Optica G-BGMW I assert that this image is fair use in Edgley Optica. ... Image File history File links G-BGMW.jpg Edgley Optica G-BGMW I assert that this image is fair use in Edgley Optica. ...

The Optica, designed by John Edgley and built by Brooklands Aerospace, had an unusual configuration with a fully-glazed forward cabin seating three across, reminiscent of an Alouette helicopter. Behind it was situated a Lycoming flat-six engine powering a ducted fan, twin boom cantilever tailplane with twin rudders and a high-mounted single elevator. The fixed tricycle undercarriage had the nosewheel offset to port. The wings were unswept and untapered, and the aircraft was of a fairly standard all-metal construction with stressed aluminium skin. The aircraft's distinctive appearance led to it being known as the "bug-eye" in some popular reports. It has been suggested that IAR 316 be merged into this article or section. ... For other meanings of Lycoming, please see Lycoming (disambiguation). ... A ducted fan is an arrangement of a propeller-driven aircraft where the propeller is mounted inside the fuselage, within a duct. ...

It first flew on 14 December 1979 ^[1], entering production in mid 1983. A crash of police Optica G-KATY on 15 May 1985 killed two members of the Hampshire Constabulary. The cause was suspected to be a stall : insufficient airspeed during a turn causing instability. The reason for the low speed was never established. This led to the bankruptcy of Edgley, with Optica Industires being formed in October 1985 to continue production and 25 were built before a fire caused by arson destroyed the factory. The company was reformed again as Brooklands Aircraft, and the Optica returned to production, production ceasing in March 1990, when Brooklands Aircraft went bankrupt. An example featured in the 1989 movie Slipstream. is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... Hampshire, sometimes historically Southamptonshire or Hamptonshire, (abbr. ... In aerodynamics, a stall is a condition in which an excessive angle of attack causes loss of lift due to disruption of airflow. ... Slipstream is a 1989 adventure/science fiction film starring Bob Peck, Mark Hamill, Bill Paxton, and Kitty Aldridge. ...

There was a grounding order by the FAA due to cracks developed in the wing spars but this is not in force as there are two examples flying in the U.S. and two are flying in Australia. There are a further two in store in the U.K. FAA may refer to: Federal Aviation Administration in the United States Fleet Air Arm in the UK Royal Navy Fuerza Aérea Argentina in Argentina This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Specifications (Optica)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 1988-1989 ^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: Three
• Length: 8.15 m (26 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 12.0 m (39 ft 4 in)
• Height: 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in)
• Wing area: 15.8 m² (171 ft²)
• Airfoil: NASA GA(W)-1
• Empty weight: 948 kg (2,090 lb)
• Loaded weight: kg (lb)
• Useful load: kg (kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 1,315 kg (2,900 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Textron Lycoming IO-540-V4A5D flat six piston engine, 194 kW (260 hp)

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 259 km/h (140 knots, 161 mph)
• Maximum speed: 213 km/h (115 knots, 132 mph)
• Cruise speed: 130 km/h (70 knots, 81 mph) (loiter speed, 40% power)
• Stall speed: 108 km/h (58 knots, 67 mph)
• Range: 1056 km (570 nm, 656 mi)
• Service ceiling: 4275 m (14000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 4.12 m/s (810 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 83.0 kg/m² (17.0 lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: 0.148 kW/kg (0.0897 hp/lb)
• Endurance: 8 h (at loiter speed)

The distance AB is the wing span of this Aer Lingus Airbus A320. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... In aviation, the Maximum Take-Off Weight (or MTOW) is the maximum weight with which an aircraft is allowed to try to achieve flight. ... For other meanings of Lycoming, please see Lycoming (disambiguation). ... An aircrafts Vne is the velocity that should never be exceeded. ... VNO of an aircraft is the V speed which refers to the velocity of normal operation. ... Airspeed Indicator in a light aircraft The VC of an aircraft is the V speed which refers to the velocity of cruising. ... Stall speed is an aerodynamic term. ... The maximal total range is the distance an aircraft can fly between takeoff and landing, as limited by fuel capacity in powered aircraft, or cross-country speed and environmental conditions in unpowered aircraft. ... In aeronautics, the service ceiling is the maximum density altitude where the best rate of climb airspeed will produce a 100 feet per minute climb(twin engine) and 50 feet(single engine) at maximum weight while in a clean configuration with maximum continuous power. ... This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ... In aerodynamics, wing loading is the loaded weight of the aircraft divided by the area of the wing. ... Power-to-weight ratio is a measure commonly used when comparing various vehicles (or engines), including automobiles, motorcycles and aircraft. ...

References

1. ^ Donald, David (Editor) (1997). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Aerospace Publishing. ISBN ISBN 1-85605-375-X. 
2. ^ Taylor, JWR (Editor) (1988). Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 1988-1989. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0 7106-0867-5. 

Photos (G-BMPL) (G-BGMW) (G-BOPN)