Ion Aircraft reports "very positive feedback" for its proposed Ion 100 two-seat tandem pusher-propeller kitplane revealed at the AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
The Minnesota-based company admits it is still looking for funding for the programme, but says it intends to fly the prototype shown at Oshkosh by this autumn or early winter.
The Ion 100 will be "reasonably and affordably priced" at approximately the same cost as a sports utility vehicle, says the company. The Ion 100 will meet the US Federal Aviation Administration's light sport aircraft (LSA) rules, while the Ion 105, with better cruise performance, will be aimed at the experimental category. The Ion 110 is for the export market.
All versions of the aircraft will feature easily removable wings for trailer storage and two different wing sets to meet different performance requirements.
The aircraft will be powered by a choice of three engines - the Rotax 912/914, Jabiru 3300 or the B2 Engines converted car engine - or by a powerplant specified by the owner weighing less than 102kg (225lb) wet. Ion explains that two of the three engines are liquid cooled, "because cooling an air-cooled pusher engine is tricky".
The kit is expected to take less than 150h to build. Bonded aluminium wings and carbonfibre/epoxy fuselage, tail boom and horizontal stabiliser will give the Ion 100 "basic aerobatics" capability of +4.4g/-2.2g, says Ion.
Source: Flight International
