LILIENTHAL X-32 BEKAS

English name: Snipe

TYPE: Tandem-seat ultralight.

PROGRAMME: First flown March 1993; certified in Ukraine in 1995. Available in A (Arctica Skiplane), AT (sportplane), UT (Uchebno-Trenirovochnyy trainer), CX (Roman ‘SKh’) (agricultural) and H (Hydro floatplane) versions. Under a 2003 agreement with Jordan Aerospace Industries, is assembled and marketed in the Middle East as JAI RumBird X-32.
REMZ-Avia of Ryazan, Russia, markets the aircraft as the Sintal, in S-2, S-2UT and S-2SKh variants; cockpit glazing has rounded corners. The Sintal was shown at the Moscow Salon in August 2005, although there has been no evidence of recent production in Ukraine.

CUSTOMERS: Over 100 built by 2004.

COSTS: X-32AT USD15,510 for airframe, or USD22,300 with Rotax, USD33,800 with Rotax 912 and USD34,790 with Rotax 912S, plus tax (2004).

DESIGN FEATURES: Pod-and-boom pusher monophone, with constant-chord high wing braced by V struts and intermediate struts. T-tail with single bracing strut each side.
Wing section NACA 4412.

FLYING CONTROLS: Conventional and manual. Slotted flaps.

LANDING GEAR: Tricycle type; fixed. Fuselage-mounted spring cantilever mainwheel legs. Trailing-link, castoring nosewheel. Mainwheel brakes.

POWER PLANT: Suitable for engines between 60 hp and 100 hp; typically 48.0 kW (64.4 hp) Rotax 582 UL, 59.6 kW (79.9 hp) Rotax 912 or 73.5 kW (98.6 hp) Rotax 912S. VPSh-2 Donchak (or similar) variable-pitch propeller. Normal fuel capacity 40 litres (10.6 US gallons; 8.8 Imp gallons) in fuselage tank; optional additional 50 litres (13.2 US gallons; 11.0 Imp gallons) in wing tanks of Rotax 912-engined versions; total 90 litres (23.8 US gallons; 19.8 Imp gallons) max optional capacity.

EQUIPMENT: Optional spray bars and 120 litre (31.7 US gallon; 26.4 Imp gallon) ventral tank on X-32CX; alternative internal tank mounted on second seat.

DIMENSIONS, EXTERNAL:

  • Wing span: 9.00 m (29 ft 6¼ in)
  • Length overall: 6.25 m (20 ft 6 in)

AREAS:

  • Wings, gross: 12.33 m² (132.7 sq ft)

WEIGHTS AND LOADINGS:

  • Chemical load (X-32SKh): 120 kg (265 lb)
  • Max T-O weight: Rotax 582: 450 kg (992 lb)
    • Rotax 912: 550 kg (1,212 lb)

PERFORMANCE:

  • Max level speed: Rotax 582: 85 kt (158 km/h; 98 mph)
    • Rotax 912: 94 kt (175 km/h; 109 mph)
  • Cruising speed: Rotax 582: 67 kt (125 km/h; 78 mph)
  • Stalling speed, power off, flaps down:
    • Rotax 582: 31 kt (57 km/h; 36 mph)
    • Rotax 912: 37 kt (67 km/h; 42 mph)
  • Max rate-of climb at S/L: 240 m (787 ft)/min
  • T-O run: 50 m (165 ft)
  • Landing run: 30 m (100 ft)
  • Endurance: normal fuel: 3 h 20 min
    • max fuel: 7 h 30 min
  • g limits: Rotax 582: +4.4/-2.2
    • Rotax 912: +3.8/-1.9