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{{short description|Motorglider}}
{| class="infobox" style="width:16em;"
{{Infobox aircraft
|+ style=font-size:large;| '''AMS/<br />Carat'''
|name = Carat A
| colspan=2 style="text-align:left;font-size:smaller" |
|logo = <!--ONLY for an individual logo of the aircraft model, (NOT the main manufacturer logo)-->
[[Image:Carat_motorglider_on_ground.jpg|center|300px|]] A Carat at the municipal airport in [[Hollister, California]].
|image = Carat motorglider on ground.jpg
|caption =
|type = High performance [[motorglider]]
|national_origin=Germany
|manufacturer = [[AMS Flight|AMS-Flight]], [[Ljubljana]]
|designer = <!--only appropriate for single designers, not project leaders-->
|first_flight = 16 December 1997
|produced = <!--years in production, e.g. 1970-1999, if still in active use but no longer built-->
|number_built = 31 by September 2009
|program cost= <!-- total program cost. -->
|unit cost = <!-- incremental or flyaway cost for military aircraft or retail price for commercial aircraft. -->
|developed_from = <!-- the aircraft which formed the basis for the topic type -->
|variants = <!-- variants OF the topic type -->
}}


The '''AMS-Flight Carat A''' is a single-seat, high performance [[motorglider]]. The sailplane was originally designed and built by [[Technoflug]] in Germany and is now manufactured by [[AMS Flight|AMS-Flight]] in Slovenia.<ref name=JAWA11/><ref name="WDLA11">Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 141. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X</ref>
|-
| '''Type designation'''
| Carat A
|-
| '''Competition class'''
| n/a
|-
| '''Number built'''
| unknown
|-
| '''Crew'''
| 1
|-
| '''Length''' (fuselage)
| 6.21 m (20.4 ft)
|-
| '''Wingspan'''
| 15 m (49.2 ft)
|-
| '''Wing area'''
| 10.58 m² (114 ft²)
|-
| '''Aspect ratio'''
| 21.3
|-
| '''Empty mass'''
| ca. 325 kg (717 lb)
|-
| '''Maximum mass'''
| 470 kg (1037 lb)
|-
| '''Wing loading'''
| ca. 36.8 – 44.4 kg/m² <br> (7.5 - 9.1 lb/ft²)
|-
| '''Maximum speed'''
| 250 km/h (135 knots)
|-
| '''Cruising Speed''' <br> 2400 rpm at sea level
| 165 km/h (89 kts)
|-
| '''Maneuvering speed'''
| 185 km/h (100 knots)
|-
| '''Best climb w/ max power'''
| 3.5 m/s at 125 km/h (700 fpm at 68 kts)
|-
| '''Stall speed'''
| 80 km/h (43 knots) at 470 kg
|-
| '''Minimum sink rate'''
| ca. 0.75 m/s at 85 km/h <br> (150 ft/min at 46 kts)
|-
| '''Best glide ratio'''
| ca. 35 at 108 km/h (58 kts)
|-
| '''Range under power'''
| ca. 900 km (486 NM)
|}


==Design and development==
[[Image:Carat_Propeller.jpg|thumb|300px|Detail of the Carat's propeller with the engine off]]
[[Image:Carat-16-aloft.jpg|thumb|300px|Carat in flight]]


The Carat was designed by Technoflug around the [[wing]]s and horizontal tail of the [[Schempp-Hirth Discus]] [[sailplane]], marrying these to a new [[fuselage]], [[fin]], [[Landing gear|undercarriage]] and engine.. Structurally the aircraft is a mixture of [[glass fibre|fibre]]glass and [[carbon fibre]] [[composite material|composites]]. The wings have [[PVC]] foam cores. In plan the wings have parallel [[Chord (aircraft)|chord]] inner panels and two outer sections of increasing straight taper. [[Winglets]] are an option. Schempp-Hirth type [[air brake (aircraft)|airbrakes]] are mounted on the upper surfaces of the inner panels, with [[turbulator]]s on the underside to ensure a controlled boundary layer transition from laminar to turbulent flow without separation. The wings have 3° of [[dihedral (aircraft)|dihedral]].<ref name=JAWA11/>
The '''Carat A''' is a single-seat, high performance [[motorglider]]. The sailplane is designed and manufactured by AMS Flight in Slovenia.


Though the Discus and the Carat share wings, they position them differently: the Discus is a [[monoplane#Types|mid-wing]] aircraft, the Carat a [[monoplane#Types|low-wing]] one. Like the Discus, the Carat has a high [[T-tail]] with separate [[tailplane]] and [[elevator (aircraft)|elevators]]. The tailplane, like the wings, is detachable for easy transport. The [[cockpit]], enclosed in a large clear single piece [[Aircraft canopy|canopy]], is at the [[trailing edge]] of the wing, with the main spar under the pilot's knees. The Carat has a [[Conventional gear|conventional]] electrically-operated inwardly [[retractable gear|retractable undercarriage]]. The main wheels have hydraulically operated disc brakes and there is a parking brake. The non-retractable tailwheel is steerable.<ref name=JAWA11/>
==General description==
The Carat is a racing [[motorglider]]. It has an unique propeller: the blades fold forward like a set of spears to minimize drag when the engine is off. This is in contrast to other motorgliders which either store the propeller inside the fuselage, or feather the propeller blades. The Carat's propeller is opened strictly by centrifugal force from the running engine, and folds automatically by a spring mechanism when the engine is stopped. The advantage is simplicity in the mechanism. However, one implication of this design is that the engine can not be windmill-started in the case the battery is drained.


The Carat is powered by an air-cooled, four cylinder, Volkswagen derived, 40&nbsp;kW (54&nbsp;hp) Sauer S1800 piston engine. This drives the unique feature of the Carat, its folding two blade [[propeller]]: the blades fold forward like spears to minimize drag when the engine is off. This is in contrast to other motorgliders which mostly either store the propeller inside the fuselage, or merely feather the propeller blades. The Carat's propeller is opened by the centrifugal force on the turning blades, working against a folding force provided by a gas damping spring mechanism.<ref name=JAWA11/> This folding mechanism has the advantage of simplicity, but it means that the engine can not be windmill-started if the battery is flat. Because of the forward pointing blades when the engine is off, the Carat cannot be towed aloft like traditional sailplanes.{{citation needed|date=November 2011}}
The plane uses the [[wing]] from the [[Schempp-Hirth Discus]], one of the most successful [[sailplane]] wing designs.


The first flight was made on 16 December 1997 and the first production model displayed at Aero '99 at [[Friedrichshafen]] in April 1999 as the '''Technoflug TFK-2 Carat.''' Certification was achieved in 2003, by which time marketing had been passed to AMS.<ref name=JAWA11/>
It is a [[tail dragger]], and has [[retractable gear]]. Launch and powered flight is done by means of its 60 horsepower, 4 cylinder, 4 stroke engine. The engine is manufactured by [[VW]], modified by Sauer for aviation use. The airplane can not be towed aloft like traditional sailplanes.


==Operational history==
This wing is has [[turbulator]]s on the underside to achieve a controlled transition from laminar to turbulent flow.
Six production aircraft had been built by the end of 2003 and thirty one by September 2009. The majority of these were flying in the United States, the rest mostly in Western [[Europe]].<ref name=JAWA11/>


[[File:Carat-16-aloft.jpg|thumb|Carat in flight]]


==Specifications==
[[File:Carat Propeller.jpg|thumb|Detail of the Carat's propeller with the engine off]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2011/12<ref name=JAWA11/>
|prime units?=met
<!--
General characteristics
-->
|genhide=


|crew=1
===Major features===
|capacity=
*Fast crusing speed and long range
|length m=6.21
*Glide Ratio: 35/1
|length note=
*Conventional T-tail with fixed stabilizer and moving elevator
|span m=15.00
*Retractable landing gear
|height m=
*Automatic control connections
|height ft=
*Schempp-Hirth air brakes on upper wing surface
|height in=
*Can be rigged and de-rigged by one person
|height note=
|wing area sqm=10.58
|wing area note=gross
|aspect ratio=21.3
|empty weight kg=341
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=490
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=52 L (13.7 US gal, 11.4 Imp gal) usable
|more general=
<!--
Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Sauer 1800-1-ES1C]]
|eng1 type=1754cc (109.8 cu in), 4-cylinder 4-stroke, air-cooled
|eng1 note=Max power: 44kW (60 HP) at 3000 rpm, Max continuous power: 40kW (54 HP)
|eng1 =
|power original=
|more power=


|prop blade number=2
|prop name=AMS AM KS-F3-1A/140-1 fixed pitch. With engine off, blades fold forward, held by gas damping springs
|prop dia m=1.40
|prop note=


<!--
== Sources ==
Performance
*[http://www.ams-flight.si/ AMS-Flight]
-->
*[http://www.sauer-flugmotorenbau.de/html/sauer_aircraft_engines.html Sauer Flugmotorenbau]
|perfhide=


|max speed kmh=
[[Category:Glider aircraft]]
|max speed mph=
[[Category:Motor_gliders]]
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=214
|cruise speed note=normal at 75% power
|stall speed kmh=77
|stall speed note=powered. 80 km/h (50 mph, 44 kn) unpowered.
|never exceed speed kmh=250
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed mph=
|minimum control speed kts=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=1026
|range note=maximum fuel, 30 min reserves
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|g limits=+5.3/-2.65<ref name=AMS/>
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|glide ratio=35:1<ref name=AMS/>
|climb rate ms=2.9
|climb rate note=maximum continuous power<ref name=AMS/>
|time to altitude=
|sink rate ms=0.75
|sink rate note=minimum
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}

<!-- ==See also== -->
{{aircontent
<!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. -->
|see also=
|related=<!-- related developments -->
|similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft -->
|lists=<!-- related lists -->
}}

==References==
{{commons category|AMS Carat}}
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name=JAWA11>{{cite book |title= Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2011-12|last= Jackson |first= Paul |year=2011|publisher=IHS Jane's|location= Coulsdon, Surrey|isbn=978-0-7106-2955-5 |pages=534}}</ref>

<ref name=AMS>{{cite web |url=http://www.ams-flight.si |title=AMS-Flight website |accessdate=2011-11-23}}</ref>
}}

<!-- ==External links== -->

[[Category:2000s Slovenian sailplanes]]
[[Category:Motor gliders]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1997]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]]

Latest revision as of 14:01, 28 November 2024

Carat A
General information
TypeHigh performance motorglider
National originGermany
ManufacturerAMS-Flight, Ljubljana
Number built31 by September 2009
History
First flight16 December 1997

The AMS-Flight Carat A is a single-seat, high performance motorglider. The sailplane was originally designed and built by Technoflug in Germany and is now manufactured by AMS-Flight in Slovenia.[1][2]

Design and development

[edit]

The Carat was designed by Technoflug around the wings and horizontal tail of the Schempp-Hirth Discus sailplane, marrying these to a new fuselage, fin, undercarriage and engine.. Structurally the aircraft is a mixture of fibreglass and carbon fibre composites. The wings have PVC foam cores. In plan the wings have parallel chord inner panels and two outer sections of increasing straight taper. Winglets are an option. Schempp-Hirth type airbrakes are mounted on the upper surfaces of the inner panels, with turbulators on the underside to ensure a controlled boundary layer transition from laminar to turbulent flow without separation. The wings have 3° of dihedral.[1]

Though the Discus and the Carat share wings, they position them differently: the Discus is a mid-wing aircraft, the Carat a low-wing one. Like the Discus, the Carat has a high T-tail with separate tailplane and elevators. The tailplane, like the wings, is detachable for easy transport. The cockpit, enclosed in a large clear single piece canopy, is at the trailing edge of the wing, with the main spar under the pilot's knees. The Carat has a conventional electrically-operated inwardly retractable undercarriage. The main wheels have hydraulically operated disc brakes and there is a parking brake. The non-retractable tailwheel is steerable.[1]

The Carat is powered by an air-cooled, four cylinder, Volkswagen derived, 40 kW (54 hp) Sauer S1800 piston engine. This drives the unique feature of the Carat, its folding two blade propeller: the blades fold forward like spears to minimize drag when the engine is off. This is in contrast to other motorgliders which mostly either store the propeller inside the fuselage, or merely feather the propeller blades. The Carat's propeller is opened by the centrifugal force on the turning blades, working against a folding force provided by a gas damping spring mechanism.[1] This folding mechanism has the advantage of simplicity, but it means that the engine can not be windmill-started if the battery is flat. Because of the forward pointing blades when the engine is off, the Carat cannot be towed aloft like traditional sailplanes.[citation needed]

The first flight was made on 16 December 1997 and the first production model displayed at Aero '99 at Friedrichshafen in April 1999 as the Technoflug TFK-2 Carat. Certification was achieved in 2003, by which time marketing had been passed to AMS.[1]

Operational history

[edit]

Six production aircraft had been built by the end of 2003 and thirty one by September 2009. The majority of these were flying in the United States, the rest mostly in Western Europe.[1]

Carat in flight

Specifications

[edit]
Detail of the Carat's propeller with the engine off

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2011/12[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 6.21 m (20 ft 4 in)
  • Wingspan: 15.00 m (49 ft 3 in)
  • Wing area: 10.58 m2 (113.9 sq ft) gross
  • Aspect ratio: 21.3
  • Empty weight: 341 kg (752 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 490 kg (1,080 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 52 L (13.7 US gal, 11.4 Imp gal) usable
  • Powerplant: 1 × Sauer 1800-1-ES1C 1754cc (109.8 cu in), 4-cylinder 4-stroke, air-cooled Max power: 44kW (60 HP) at 3000 rpm, Max continuous power: 40kW (54 HP)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed AMS AM KS-F3-1A/140-1 fixed pitch. With engine off, blades fold forward, held by gas damping springs, 1.40 m (4 ft 7 in) diameter

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 214 km/h (133 mph, 116 kn) normal at 75% power
  • Stall speed: 77 km/h (48 mph, 42 kn) powered. 80 km/h (50 mph, 44 kn) unpowered.
  • Never exceed speed: 250 km/h (160 mph, 130 kn)
  • Range: 1,026 km (638 mi, 554 nmi) maximum fuel, 30 min reserves
  • g limits: +5.3/-2.65[3]
  • Maximum glide ratio: 35:1[3]
  • Rate of climb: 2.9 m/s (570 ft/min) maximum continuous power[3]
  • Rate of sink: 0.75 m/s (148 ft/min) minimum

References

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to AMS Carat.
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Jackson, Paul (2011). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2011-12. Coulsdon, Surrey: IHS Jane's. p. 534. ISBN 978-0-7106-2955-5.
  2. ^ Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 141. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. ^ a b c "AMS-Flight website". Retrieved 2011-11-23.
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