The Atlas ACE is a South African turboprop trainer, that was designed by the Atlas Aircraft Corporation as a contender to replace the North American Harvard in service with the South African Air Force. The aircraft was not selected and only two examples were completed.
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ACE | |
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Role | Trainer Type of aircraft |
National origin | South Africa |
Manufacturer | Atlas Aircraft Corporation |
First flight | 29 April 1991 |
Number built | 2 |
The design originated as the 1986 Project Ovid by the government research agency Aerotek, as a composites technology demonstrator.[1] In 1991 the design was entered into a competition to replace the North American Harvard by the Atlas Aircraft Corporation as the ACE (All Composite Evaluator).
The ACE is a tandem two-seat low-wing cantilever monoplane powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprop. It has a retractable nosewheel landing gear and a conventional tail unit. The aircraft is constructed from carbon fiber composites.[1]
The prototype was first flown on 29 April 1991, but did not win the competition which was awarded to the Pilatus PC-7.[1]
On 14 January 1995 the prototype was lost in a wheels up landing at Jan Smuts Airport.[1] The second improved aircraft was scheduled to fly, but the design was not developed.
General characteristics
Performance
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Atlas/Denel Aeronautics aircraft | |
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Fixed-wing aircraft | |
Helicopters |