The Pro-Composites Freedom is an American amateur-built aircraft, under development by Pro-Composites of Buffalo Grove, Illinois. The aircraft is intended to be supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction, with some pre-formed parts made available to speed construction.[1][2]

Design and development

The aircraft features a cantilever low-wing, a four-seat enclosed cabin accessed by doors, fixed tricycle landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in tractor configuration.[1]

The aircraft is made from pre-formed flat fiberglass and foam composite panels which are then radius bent to shape. Its 30 ft (9.1 m) span wing employs a NACA 63A-214 airfoil at the wing root, transitioning to a NACA 63A-212 airfoil at the wing tip. The wing has an area of 134 sq ft (12.4 m²) and the cabin will be 46 in (117 cm) in width. The landing gear features a fully castering nosewheel and differential braking for steering. The aircraft has been designed for engines of 180 to 320 hp (134 to 239 kW).[1][3]

The manufacturer markets the design as "the only composite, plans built, 4 seat aircraft that uses a conventional - non canard - platform. It can be constructed entirely from the manuals using raw materials or from pre-formed parts."[2]

Specifications (Freedom)

Data from Bayerl and Pro-Composites[1][3]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: three passengers
• Wingspan: 30 ft (9.1 m)
• Wing area: 134 sq ft (12.4 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 7:1
• Airfoil: Root: NACA 63A-214, tip: NACA 63A-212
• Empty weight: 1,450 lb (658 kg)
• Gross weight: 2,800 lb (1,270 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 65 U.S. gallons (250 L; 54 imp gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × four stroke aircraft engine of 180 to 320 hp (134 to 239 kW) ,

Performance

• Cruise speed: 210 mph (340 km/h, 180 kn) with upper power range engine
• Never exceed speed: 234 mph (377 km/h, 203 kn)
• g limits: +4.5/-3 at 2,700 lb (1,225 kg)
• Wing loading: 20.9 lb/sq ft (102 kg/m²)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pro-Composites.

• Official website