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Technology update
Lightweight Magnum
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An artist's impression of the Magnum aircraft with undercarriage detail.
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A small UK company, Aviation Enterprises, is developing a two-seat, side-by-side general aviation aircraft called the Magnum. It has a target empty weight of around 770 lb and, with a 100-hp engine, it is designed to achieve a cruise speed of 160 kts and a range of some 1,000 nmi. Aerodynamic efficiency and weight savings have been key elements in the design of the Magnum, which is described as a high-speed, long-distance commuter aircraft of glass/carbon construction, the same material used for its retractable undercarriage. Aviation Enterprises believes it is the first-ever application of a glass/carbon-fiber epoxy composite in production for a retractable undercarriage.
The landing gear also incorporates an elastomer called Dynathane, which has a wide range of applications, from Formula One racecars to mountain bikes. The shock absorbers are comprised of elastomer disks, each measuring 2.5 inches in diameter and 2 inches in length. A stack of ten of the molded disks with a thin plate of aluminum between each is used to provide a simple, low-cost, low-maintenance - and low weight - system. The Dynathane moldings, manufactured by Hyperlast Ltd., are compressed to carry the static load of the aircraft with a minimum deflection of about 4 in.
Angus Fleming, Managing Director and Chief Designer of Aviation Enterprises, believes the company is the only aircraft manufacturer using that type of elastomer as a complete shock absorber. The system has to meet critical landing load requirements set by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the UK equivalent of the FAA. "We proved the damping characteristics of the shock absorption system in a drop-test and the results met requirements," said Fleming.
Half-scale models of the Magnum have been wind tunnel-tested and Aviation Enterprises expects first flight of the prototype to take place in about a year. Full details of the aircraft are expected to be released in 2000.
Stuart Birch
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