Aeroprakt A22LS Kelpie
The 2020 A22LS KELPIE aircraft was designed in response to the demands of station and farm owners and those who regularly use their aircraft for stock spotting, mustering and farm maintenance. The Kelpie is at heart a Foxbat, retaining all the inherent qualities of that aircraft and adding a few important extras to make it as attractive as possible for its intended owners. Firstly, it has a larger diameter take-off and climb propeller. The Foxbat boasts a breathtaking take-off rate, and the Kelpie is even better, particularly at slow speeds.
The Kelpie wears a set of large tundra tyres fitted with rubber or metal low-resonance mud flaps - in combination, these add a capability for landing on rougher paddocks while keeping stones and cow pats off the airframe. It has a metal luggage bin with an external access door and a 30kg placard, suitable for stowing tools and other items. The Kelpie also features as standard a GME UHF radio and a twin tone 100W Australian Warning Systems siren with stick-mounted control buttons.
Very Short Take Off & Landing in under 100m
The Kelpie is a very short take-off and landing (VSTOL) aircraft So what? Simply – control, more field options and added safety. Getting off and back on to the ground safely, quickly and at a slow speed, means less wear & tear on the landing gear, and less potential damage to the propeller from stones and gravel
Fuselage with cargo door for extra gear
The Kelpie has a large all metal luggage bin behind the seats placarded at 30 kgs (increased by 10 kgs on the earlier A22LS Foxbats) - easily accessed through a large external side door or from the cabin, allowing you to carry rugged loads
Low stall speed and large control surfaces give authority
Stalling is a non-event, even without flap. There is no tendency at all to drop a wing and you can side-slip safely with or without flap. At slow speeds, the controls are light and extremely effective - at higher speeds they firm-up and make cruising a more relaxed affair allowing you to fly longer with ease around the station or on a long cross-country trip
Station work-ready with UHF radio and siren
Flight control is via a large central Y-stick and all metal rudder pedals. The control system uses heavy duty ball bearings which are strong and reliable and the control system offers ease of access for maintenance and regular inspection. The centre stick makes entry and exit simple and easy.
The Kelpie comes standard with an 80-channel GME UHF (CB) radio which is properly integrated with the avionics system, allowing both occupants to talk and listen, while monitoring the VHF radio as well.
An extremely loud siren is standard and features dual tone selection from the control stick itself - this means your hands never leave the controls while flying and getting the job done
Landing gear and large tyres with mud flaps for off-field use
The landing gear is strong yet light, with very large 8.00x6 'tundra' type tyres and mud flaps on all tyres to protect from flying stones and keep the aircraft clean of mud.
The nose leg utilises a large suspension spring often found on motorbikes which provides excellent damping and shock absorption on rough strips.
The Kelpie so tall that the wing will pass over most cattle gates with ease!
Wide cockpit with quick removable doors
It’s probably the biggest, airiest cabin in its class. This means that whether you’re learning, flying above the station or just enjoying a scenic flight with a friend, you’re not jammed shoulder to shoulder, the controls are easier to use, and room to move makes for greater safety all round.
The doors are glazed to the floor, the windscreen is massive. If you’re stock spotting or mustering, you can see straight down without banking. You can see everything on the ground for miles around.
The seats are positioned correctly, so tall people do not get a sore neck having to duck down to see under the wing in flight and yet can easily see over the nose. Finally, you can fly with one or both doors removed - with the standard quick release mechanism, removing both doors is easy and simple
Specification
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Vne (never exceed speed) | 124 knots |
| Typical cruise TAS with large tundra tyres | 40-85 knots |
| Stall TAS (landing configuration) | 32 knots |
| Take-off roll | 100 metres |
| Take-off to 50' | 243 metres |
| Landing roll | 100 metres |
| Landing from 50' | 243 metres |
| Flap limit speed | 80 knots |
| Best climb | 1000 feet per minute at 54 knots |
| MTOW (land plane) | 600 kg |
| Typical empty weight | 315 kg |
| Fuel capacity | 114 litres usable |
| Carry including fuel | 285 kg |
| Usable load after full fuel | 206 kg |
| Cruise endurance (@ cruise power of 75%) | 5.0 hours + 45 minutes reserve |
| Range (with 45min reserved) | 442nm |
| Wing span | 9.55 metres |
| Length | 6.23 metres |
| Height | 2.47 metres |
| Main gear track | 1.712 metres |
| Operational load limits | +4 -2 G |
| Tested at 650 kgs to | +6 -3 G |
