ICP aircraft
| Vimana | |
|---|---|
| Role | Two seat light STOL |
| National origin | Italy |
| Manufacturer | ICP srl, Castelnuovo don Bosco |
| First flight | May–June 2006 |
| Introduction | 2006 |
| Status | in production |
| Number built | at least 7 |
The ICP Vimana is a single engine, two seat, high wing, light aircraft with STOL capability. Designed and built in Italy by ICP srl, it was introduced in 2006.[1][2]
The Vimana (Vimana is a Sanskrit word, the meanings of which include flying machine) is a conventionally arranged single engine high wing light aircraft, designed to have STOL performance. It seats two side-by-side. The Vimana is mostly constructed from riveted aluminium sheet.[3]
The Vinama's wing is tapered, mostly on the trailing edge, and carries 2° of dihedral. On each side a single, forward leaning strut links the wing to the lower fuselage, assisted by a short intermediate strut at its wing connection. More than half the trailing edge carries inboard double slotted Fowler flaps with a maximum deflection of 40°; the rest of the trailing edge is fitted with conventional ailerons. The leading edge is fitted with electrically operated slats.[3]
The Vimana is normally powered by a 74 kW (99 hp) Rotax 912 ULS flat four driving a three-bladed propeller, though the Turbo version of this engine is an option. It has a standard tricycle undercarriage with faired wheels, fitted with brakes and mounted on spring cantilever legs to the fuselage at the base of the wing spar. The faired nosewheel is steerable. A lightweight version of the Vimana has smaller wheels, as well as lighter instrumentation and cabin furnishings; overall, 43 kg (95 lb) is cut from the empty weight. Access to the cabin is via fully transparent, upward opening doors.[3] There is a small flight accessible compartment for about 20 kg of luggage behind the seats.[4] The underside of the fuselage tapers upwards to the tail, where all surfaces are straight-tapered. The fin and large rudder are swept, with a small fillet. The tailplane is low mounted and the separate elevators, also large, are horn balanced.[3]
Take-off and landing runs (ground roll) are 45 and 40 m (148 and 131 ft) respectively. The corresponding overall distances to clear 15.25 m (50.0 ft) are 97 and 90 m (318 and 295 ft).[4]
The design is an accepted Federal Aviation Administration special light-sport aircraft, as the Skykits Rampage.[5]
The Vimana first appeared in public at the Cielo e Volo show at Ozzano in June 2006. A second machine was produced in 2007 and became the North American demonstrator, flown by Skykits of Alberta, Canada, who market the Vimana as the Rampage.[2][3][4]
As of mid-2010, there were 5 Vimanas on European registers in addition to the prototype.[6][7]
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2010/11[3]
General characteristics
Performance