Cavalier
The SA102.5 Cavalier is a
much modified and refined development of the GY-20 Minicab. It is in the
same French tradition, as the Jodels, the Emeraudes, and other fine wooden
aircraft from Europe, but designed in Western Canada by Stan McLeod. The
first flight of the prototype SA 102 was made in 1964 and subsequent
development (such as the addition of tip tanks) lead to the first flight
of the SA 102.5 in February 1971.
Basically, a SA102.5
Cavalier is a two-seat (side by side) cantilever low-wing monoplane. The
wing section is a NACA 23015 at the root and NACA 23012 at the tip. The
wing structure consists of a single wooden box spar, plywood leading edge,
and an auxiliary rear spar to carry the flaps and ailerons. The centre
section and leading edge of the wing is plywood covered, the remainder
covered with fabric. The fuselage is a wooden truss type structure of
spruce and birch ply construction. The cockpit doors and canopy are of
fibreglass. The rear decking is fabric covered as are the control
surfaces. The standard aircraft has a fixed tricycle under-carriage with
spring steel gear legs. Fuel is carried in wing tip tanks of up to 22
Imperial gallons capacity. Engine options range from 85 hp to 135 hp.
Some Notes from the
Designer - Mr Stan McLeod (April 2004)
SA102, SA102.5, SA
103, SA104 Cavaliers and SA105 Super Cavalier
The Cavalier started life
as the SA102 Cavalier and the prototype; built by Forest Fenton of
Calgary, flew with 135 hp Lyc in 1963. This was a fairly basic machine by
present day standards but was the aircraft that proved the "Rod Nose Gear"
could be made to work (others had tried and failed). The original
prototype just plain wore out, was rebuilt and I believe still exists.
Could use engines from 85 to 135hp, could be built as tri gear or tail
dragger and was easily convertible from one to the other.
NOTE: the tail dragger turned out to be around 15 mph SLOWER than the tri
gear and didn't handle rough fields any better than the tri gear; however
both offered excellent handling on the ground. Some builders demanded
retractable gear for the Cavalier and this was not practical so I spent
some 4-5000 hrs designing a new airplane with retractable gear - the SA105
Super Cavalier.
SA105 Super Cavalier
(1968)
This airplane follows the
same basic construction pattern as the SA102.5 but is beefed up to;
1) take larger engines and variable pitch props from 125 to 200 hp,
including auto conversions
2) withstand the higher gross weights necessary
3) withstand the higher stresses of the higher cruising speeds
4) enlarged cockpit
a) to house two people comfortably for long cross country flying
b) more radios and instruments for x country and IFR flying
c) provide room for the retracted nose wheel and pilots/pass, legs
d) added baggage space necessary for x country travel
5) fuselage is 4" wider and 4" taller than the 102.5 and 7" longer
6) wing structure is beefed and modified to accept retractable gear and
mechanism
7) tricycle landing gear is all spring steel and manually retracted
similar to the early Mooneys. hydraulic retraction can be adapted quite
easily
8) streamlined fibreglass tip tanks are added to remove all fuel from the
cockpit and increase the aspect ratio and wing area (these tanks produce
lift and reduce drag).
specifications
powerplant
propeller
length
height
wing span
wing area
seats
empty weight
useful load
gross weight
fuel capacity
range |
Lycoming O-290GPU
135hp
metal 69x69
x
x
x
x
2
975 pounds
x
1500 pounds
x
x |
performance
takeoff
distance, ground roll
rate of climb
max speed
cruise speed
landing distance, ground roll
service ceiling |
x
1000 fpm
185 mph
160 mph
x
x |
limiting and recommended speeds
design
manoeuvring speed (Va)
never exceed speed (Vne)
stall, power off (Vsl)
landing approach speed |
x
x
55 mph
x |
All specifications are based on
manufacturer's calculations
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