PJB VEGA 2000

TYPE: Side-by-side ultralight.

DEVELOPMENT: Originally marketed as a kitbuilt by Aviakit as Hermes and around 20 built before project taken over by PJB Aerocomposite on 1 September 2001.

CURRENT VERSIONS: Four options of engine and two options of landing gear. Vega 2000 TJ, TR5, TR9 and TR10 with tricycle gear and Jabiru, Rotax 582, 912 UL and 912 ULS engines; Vega 2000 CJ, CR5, CR9 and CR10 with Classique (classic; tailwheel) gear and same engines.

CUSTOMERS: Total of 26 orders and options by mid-2002.

COSTS: Kits, without engine: Basic €22,484, Advanced €25,874; with Jabiru 2200 €37,076, Rotax 582 UL €33,484, with Rotax 912 UL €40,544. Completed aircraft: Jabiru 2200 €48,198.80, Rotax 582 UL €45,089, Rotax 912 UL €51,428, Rotax 912 ULS €58,604.

DESIGN FEATURES: Low-wing tourer with high-mounted canopy and centre fuselage of sharply reduced cross-section aft of cockpit; strut-braced, mid-mounted tailplane; small underfin. Changes to design made by PJB include cutaway base of rudder and redesigned wing of shorter span.
NACA 23015 wing section with 5° dihedral. Quoted build time is 300 hours.

FLYING CONTROLS: Conventional and manual, with control sticks. Large ground-adjustable tab added to rudder by 1998. Electrically actuated flaps.

STRUCTURE: Fuselage is carbon-epoxy construction. Wings are wood/composites with carbon spar, strut-supported mid-mounted tailplane.

LANDING GEAR: Choice of fixed tricycle or tailwheel layout; former has speed fairings. Hydraulic brakes.

POWER PLANT: Choice of 73.5 kW (98.6 hp) Rotax 912 ULS, 59.6 kW (79.9 hp) Rotax 912 UL or 59.7 kW (80 hp) Jabiru 2200 engines; 47.8 kW (64.1 hp) Rotax 582 UL is offered as option. Arplast or Duc two-blade, fixed-pitch, carbon fibre propeller. Fuel capacity 80 litres (21.1 US gallons; 17.6 Imp gallons) in two wing tanks.

AVIONICS: Comms: Options include Bendix/King KY 97A or Becker AR4201 VHF com, KT 76A or ATC4401 transponder, and Garmin GPS/com.
Instrumentation: RCA26AK1 electric artificial horizon and Brauniger Alpha MFD electronic instrument display optional.

EQUIPMENT: Navigation lights, strobe light and Junkers high-speed ballistic parachute recovery system optional.

DIMENSIONS, EXTERNAL:

  • Wing span: 9.35 m (30 ft 8 in)
  • Length overall: 6.50 m (21 ft 4 in)
  • Height overall: 1.80 m (5 ft 10¾ in)

DIMENSIONS, INTERNAL:

  • Cabin max width: 1.10 m (3 ft 7¼ in)

AREAS:

  • Wings, gross: 11.50 m² (123.8 sq ft)

WEIGHTS AND LOADINGS:

  • Weight empty: Jabiru: 254 kg (560 lb)
    • Rotax 912 UL: 264 kg (582 lb)
  • Max T-O weight: 450 kg (992 lb) or 472 kg (1,040 lb)*

*According to local regulations

PERFORMANCE (with Rotax 912 UL engine):

  • Never-exceed speed (VNE): 135 kt (250 km/h; 155 mph)
  • Max operating speed (VMO): 119 kt (220 km/h; 137 mph)
  • Cruising speed: 108 kt (200 km/h; 124 mph)
  • Stalling speed: 33 kt (60 km/h; 38 mph)
  • Max rate of climb at S/L: 360 m (1,181 ft)/min
  • T-O run: 150 m (495 ft)
  • Landing run: 100 m (330 ft)
  • Range: 432 n miles (800 km; 497 miles)

The article appears in the following publication:
Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2004-2005. Jane's Information Group Ltd. 2004. ISBN: 0-7106-2614-2

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