
              
              The distinctive Knight Twister 
              is the oldest aircraft design offered by Steen Aero Lab and has 
              quite an interesting history dating back to the late 1920s. 
              Launched in 1928 by Vernon Payne as a way to liven up an aircraft 
              design class he was teaching, the design draws heavily upon NACA 
              aerodynamic research.  
            The Knight Twister in any version is a true 
            thoroughbred. While it is not like the average trainer in control 
            response, the fact is that the design simply doesn't need to be 
            horsed around the sky. It is the kind of plane that thrives on 
            smooth control inputs, and in return she will reward the pilot with 
            smooth, perfectly-balanced performance. Properly-built Twisters tend 
            to be very straightforward and easy to fly airplane with excellent 
            performance, which give great enjoyment to their pilots.  
            Construction methods are conventional. The 
            fully-cantilever wing and tail surface construction is mostly of 
            plywood (it's too small to use a built-up truss structure 
            efficiently) while the fuselage is built of welded steel tubing. The 
            wings are fully cantilever and stressed to 7-9 Gs (depending upon 
            the version) though the addition of flying wires raises the strength 
            somewhat. Since the first flight with a 45 horsepower radial engine 
            in 1929, the Twister has gone through at least eleven different 
            versions and probably around 75 have been completed. The popular 
            KT85 version appeared after World War Two and this lead to the 
            versions available today: the "Imperial", "Holiday", "Acro" and the 
            two-place "Coed". Power options range from 85 hp to 150 hp.
             
            
            
            
            Coed
            
             
              
               | specifications 
 
              
                | powerplant propeller
 length
 height
 wing span
 wing area
 seats
 empty weight
 useful load
 gross weight
 fuel capacity
 range
 | Lycoming HP Range 108/85-160 x
 13.5ft
 5ft
 15.5ft
 55sq. ft
 1/2
 517lb
 x
 865lb
 20gal
 610n.m
 |  
            performance 
            
             
              
                | takeoff distance, 
                ground roll rate of climb
 max speed
 cruise speed
 landing distance, ground roll
 service ceiling
 | 400ft 1800fpm
 180mph
 165mph
 800ft
 x
 |  
            limiting and recommended speeds
             
              
                | design manoeuvring speed (Va) never exceed speed (Vne)
 stall, power off (Vsl)
 landing approach speed
 | x x
 55mph
 x
 |  All specifications are based on manufacturer's 
            calculations
 |