The Australian LightWing SPEED Range

 

 

 

 

 

 

To cover Australia’s vast distances affordably and comfortably, the Australian LightWing SPEED Range has been developed specificially for the flying enthusiast who expects superlative quality, excellence in engineering design and the ultimate in safety and efficiency.

With a quarter century of design, production and flying experience in the Australian aviation industry, The Hughes Group proudly presents the Australian LightWing SPEED Range of two and four Light Sport Aircraft. Please call or email today for a price list on the Australian LightWing SPEED Range of 2 and 4 Seat Kit or Factory Built aircraft, and also for your FREE copy of our SPEED DVD.

On this SPEED Aircraft page you will find:

The SPEED Configurations

SPEED Specifications

The SPEED Tail Dragger (Images) SP TD

An overview of the Saftey Design Features

The Glass Cockpit and SPEED Dashboard

The Australian LightWing Range Philosophy and Design Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Ordering Status/Terms of Payment

The SPEED is available in various configurations, from the lightweight RAA registerable SP-2000S (Nosewheel or tailwheel) to the four seat SP-4000 (Nosewheel only).

The Australian LightWing's sleek body and flying surfaces have been designed with style, class and exceptional aerodynamics in mind. From the performance enhancing body curves to our Australian LightWing tail section.

The Australian LightWing is completely Australian Made, with complete back up, friendly service and quick repair. The Hughes Group has been manufacturing aircraft for twenty-five strong years and boasts an impeccable safety record in the Australian aviation industry.

SPEED Configurations

Aircraft Title	Features	Power Plant	Seats	Wing	Undercarriage	Wingspan	Cockpit Width	Range	Cruise	Load
SPEED 2000	Glass Cockpit & VIP Prop	912 s	2 seat	Low wing	Nose Wheel	8.7Metres	1.15M	5 Hrs	115kts	202kgs
SPEED 2000 TD	Glass Cockpit & VIP Prop	912 s	2 seat	Low wing	Tail Dragger	8.7Metres	1.15M	5 Hrs	115kts	202kgs
SPEED 4000	Glass Cockpit & VIP Prop	Lycombing, Superior, Continental.	4 seat	Low Wing	Nose Wheel	8.7 M	1.15M	6 Hrs	155kts	500kgs
SPEED 4000 TD	Glass Cockpit & VIP Prop	Lycombing, Superior, Continental.	4 seat	Low Wing	Tail Dragger	8.7 M	1.15M	6 Hrs	155kts	500kgs
SPEED 6000	Glass Cockpit, Trutrac Autopilot.	Supermarine V6, Supermarine V8 or Io360 Lycombing or Turbine	6 seat	Low Wing	Tail Wheel	Please Visit the SP6000 Webpage for more Info

Specifications

~ Australian LightWing SPEED SP-2000-S	Two Seat ~ Nose wheel or Tail wheel
Nose and tailwheel are same price
Wing Area:	12.62 sqm
Powerplant:	Rotax 912-s or Rotax 914
Registration:	As a Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) with the RA-AUS, VH- or Experimental
Stall Speed:	full flap 45 kts Cruise 115 kts VNE 145 kts
Range:	maximum 600 nm.
Fuel Capacity:	120 L total. Useable 112 litres
Adjustable seats and rudder pedals	(total 30cm approx.)
Gull wing doors pilots side & passenger side	with emergency release
Interior upholstry automotive style interior and hood lining	leather trim to seats standard
Structural testing	+- 5 G
Takeoff distance to clear 50 ft at MTOW bitumen ISA conditions	600m
Seat belts:	4 point standard
Prop fixed pitch carbon fiber blades (Bolly) standard, inflight adjustable optional price $4,900	inc. GST and installation at time of purchase.
Side control sticks.
Flaps:	Multi position electric, switch on central console
Trim:	elevator only, spring with central console trim wheel.
Custom or standard paint schemes.
Brakes:	hydraulic toe operated disks, wheels 6" x 6" tyres 15"
Optional wheel fairings	$950 fitted.
Rear baggage area:	1m x .8m x .8m capacity 2 seater 25 k

Ask for a price on the Rotax 914 turbo engine as the price varies with the exchange rate, allow approx. $19,000.

Glass instrument panels: CAN (Computer Aided Navigation) by Australian LightWing $8,900. Stratomaster $8.900 fitted. Ask for a price on the Stratomaster autopilot, approx. $3,000.

Wing construction: 6061T6 high tensile ally frame, skins same ally. Underside outboard panels 2.5Oz Ceconite. Control surfaces GRP laminate mass balanced ailerons, elevators and rudder.

Fuselage construction: welded light weight fuselage with semi structural GRP skin, heat formed polycarbonate windows, underside of fuselage forward ally skin, rear ceconite.

Wing tips: GRP, options: nav and strobe lights, Price on application (approx. $1,000 )

Spinner: 13" diameter GRP

Click here to download takeoff (pdf format) and if you're interested in more information, please visit our downloads page.

Australian LightWing SP-4000 ~ Four Seat

Wing Area: 12.62 sqm
Powerplant: Lycoming O360 160hp or I0360 180hp Registration: As VH Experimental GA Aircraft.

Call and ask Howie about a low hour O360 Lycombing engine now available price about $20,000 with a constant speed metal prop. Also Subaru auto conversion (Turbo) available with an IVO prop. price $11,900... call now! this will not last long!

Undercart: spring steel heat treated nose leg and mains

Steering: castering nosewheel, brake steering, rudder is effective at about 15 kts airspeed

 

The SP~TD ( The Australian LightWing SPEED Tail Dragger )

The SP TD features a new spinner design!

 

Why purchase an SP-2000?

The first reason is safety. Safety is the prominent feature in our airframe and aircraft design. We offer the highest quality in our components, service and accessories.

(Pictured above, the Australian LightWing Protection Frame)

The track record of our aircraft  and design principals go back 24 years and our record is near perfect in terms of serious accidents. Sure, you could say that perhaps only conservative pilots fly Australian LightWing aircraft, but the way we design and build our aircraft definitely contributes to our record. The combination of aluminum wings and a welded steel safety frame encloses the pilots in a protective cocoon that is unmatched in the industry. If you watch the TV sports news, from time to time, you see formula one  race cars in a high speed impact usually with a safety barrier.  In most cases, the driver simply walks away from what was left of his vehicle. If you could imagine the result had he been sitting in a fiberglass or  riveted aluminum cockpit with no roll over protection, we use the same design philosophy.

Next is reason to purchase an Australian LightWing SPEED is flight handling. The SP-2000 is stable and easy to fly and with the low wing, the wing flaps have more affect than they do with a high wing aircraft. When the wind is blowing across the strip, in a cross-wind situation, a low wing aircraft  is easier to manage as the aircraft has both a  lower center of drag and also a lower center of gravity.

Performance. Solid rate of climb of 750 feet per min, cruise speed of 105 kts with fixed pitch prop and 115 with our own VIP (variable pitch) Prop. Takeoff distance to clear a 50 ft obstacle is about 600 m with a takeoff roll of 350m in zero wind at MTOW.

In terms of teaching students, the main controls (elevator and aileron) side sticks are separate for student and teacher and though the throttle and trim are common, there will be no need for the instructor to touch the students hands during most modes of instruction (an important issue particularly when instructing young students). The seating and rudder pedals are adjustable, making it possible to safely and comfortably operate the aircraft controls without the use of pillows and cushions, always present in most schools with aircraft with fixed controls and seating. The control sticks can be adjusted 50mm for and aft, though this customisation is spanner adjustable.

Style, here I hope you agree that the SP-2000 is both stylish, state of the art and attractive and if aircraft look good, they generally fly well. The SP-2000 body is sleek and aerodynamically clean, resulting in less power being used  to propel the aircraft resulting in less fuel burn (15 to 18 l/hr), longer range and lower operating costs. The SP-2000 will comfortably maintain altitude at 70 kts indicated with only half throttle (about 49 hp).

We are Australian, no need to elaborate on that one, faster service, much faster service. Nick Hughes maintains the fastest backup and parts service possible, we make the parts here so its simply not possible so be out of stock of any parts, small or large. "Buying Australian" needs to be  taught at school if we are to build our  Aussie technology base. I don’t believe there is a LightWing internet support group, a sound indication that factory support is 100% effective.
Documentation, our service and flight  manuals make maintenance simple and straight forward.

The company, HHE has over 30 years of sound local trading  with AAA credit rating  and hundreds of happy clients.

Last of all are the details:

A custom paint job in any color (other fiberglass aircraft MUST be painted only white !); 4 fresh-air vents to the cockpit; optional cabin heater; sun hood over the instruments;  the dash board is easily removed and designed around optional state of the art glass cockpit panels;  4 point seat belts standard; large luggage area; Australian made Bolly propellor with "Duratough" polyurethane  leading edge; state of the art Rotax engine up front; electrical switch / circuit breakers for electrical security; 360 degree swiveling nosewheel makes  turning both on the strip and in the hanger a breeze; 6 ply aircraft tires are standard with optional wheel fairings available; monitor the progress of your aircraft weekly on the LightWing web page; user friendly  purchase terms (33.3% deposit, same at 1 month prior to delivery and balance on  hand-over). Delivery at present about 3 months (2010).

Aircraft Design - The SP2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Australian LightWing ~ Wing Section

Our large square plan wings use wing sectin NACA23013, this wing section combined with our smooth and clean airframe gives you, the pilot, the ultimate in efficiency, as an example and using 4,100 Rpm and 25 inches Manifold pressure, the SP-2000 will maintain altitude at 65 kts using only about 30 hp. This is amaising to see in flight. Apply power and the airspeed rapidly reaches cruise speed of 105 kts in a matter of seconds, see our free SPEED DVD for an in-flight demonstration of this.

With a wingspan of only twenty-eight feet, (28') the square plan wings have an inbuilt anti-stall feature that keeps the wing tips flying right up to the stall. The obvious difference between a high wing and a low wing is that the wings are closer to the ground, so, on landing, the large flaps are more effective; the aircraft can slow right down and the effect of crosswinds is much less pronounced. Although they're comparatively short, the wings on the SP2000 provide excellent stability in the air and on the runway.

Undercarriage

The tyres on our aircraft are fifteen inch (15”) on 5 x 5" rims, the Air Trac tyres grip the runway and provide diferential steering with big powerful disk brakes, this means they're big and rugged and can handle rough or bush strips with ease. The castering nose wheel means the SP-2000 can be spun on one wheel and makes maneuvering the aircraft in your hanger very easy.

Variable Inflight Pitch Propellor

	The SP2000 has an excellent rate of climb with the industry standard Rotax engine and we have the added features of our Variable Inflight Pitch propellor or VIP. The VIP gives a better rate of climb and better top speed and much better fuel economy from as low as 14 l/hr to 18 l/hr.
	»»Read more
	Cockpit ~ Interior Comfort The Cockpit is upholstered in stylish and durable leather. Colour choices available. Your comfort and safety is of paramount importance to us. Of course the SP2000 incorporates adjustable seats and adjustable rudder pedals for optimal pilot and passenger flying comfort.
Our fabulous gull wing doors are very easy to access and exit via and are equipped with a multiple interlocking door retention safety locking system. There is a cavrnous area behind the pilots where large, light objects can be carried as the same fuselage is used for the four seat aircraft so its actually room for another two passengers (although this is not permitted under the light sport category). The SP2000 joysticks are in the industry standard location, at the sides of the cockpit, providing maximum cockpit freedom.

The Glass Cockpit and SP2000 Dashboard

 

 

 

 

 

Our dashboard is designed with the use or fitting of a glass cockpit as the primary feature. There are optional systems available; from our CAN system, to the recommended Odyssey system and many other GPS systems and glass cockpit screens can be mounted directly in front of the pilot. The dash features a sunshade over the screen, which is once again essential for its practical operation and longevity.

	Pictured left is a screen shot of the CAN Navigational system, showing 3D terrain and flight information. To learn more on the Glass Cockpit, please visit out Features Page.

Most importantly, there is a roof over the pilot's head. You're protected.

If you earn a living in the air, carrying out flight training or just getting from A to B in the most efficient manner possible, you owe yourself a safe trip. Sure, sit in one of those glass bubble type cockpits but if you come unstuck nothing will protect you better than a fully triangulated welded steel frame. You have seen Formulae 1 race cars hit the wall at 200 kilometers per hour and the driver gets out and walks away, well, our fuselage is no different, In the past 25 years and unfortunatly, we have had one fatal accident in a LightWing aircraft but thats not a bad record and we attribute it 95% to our safety frame. Then there is real risk of skin cancer from the burning sun when sitting under a glass bubble, NO THANKS, give me a roof any day !

At a local social gathering in early 2009, I talked with a guy who had flipped his US Kit aircraft on its back crushing the canopy and traping him and his wife inside. He had gotten out ok using an axe I think, but his wife had broken her neck in the accident, did he want to look at our aircraft ? no. he was happy with his ****... some people will never learn !

Yes, you have probably worked out by now, that we are passionate and also damm proud of our safety record and there are about a dozen people walking about today that are alive because of our attention to active safety design in our aircraft. Fitting a glass bubble over a cockpit saves thousands of dollars, all you do is get a contractor to make it for you, wheras to build and frame a roof structure, clad it with GRP, add sleek and neat gull-wing doors etc adds a good few thousand dollars to the cost but how much is your life worth ? Like the old saying goes, there are cheap aircraft and there are good aircraft but never both !

»»Read more

The Australian LightWing SPEED Range of Fully Built and Kit Aircraft

All prices are subject to change without notice, call at time of purchase for a fixed quotation. Terms of Payment ~ 3 installments ~ 33% deposit; 33% 1 month prior to delivery and balance on delivery. Aircraft is delivered with a minimum of 30 Litres of fuel and test flown four hours minimum.

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ALW Frequently Asked Questions:

What's the Cruise speed of the SPEED?

What's the Takeoff Roll / Landing Performance of the SPEED?

What is the Range or Endurance of the SPEED?

How much Fuel can the SPEED carry?

What is the Consumption of the SPEED?

What Materials are used during the Construction of the aircraft?

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Cruise

Aircraft Title	Cruise
SPEED 2000	115kts
SPEED 4000	155kts
SPEED 6000	-

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Takeoff Roll / Landing Performance

Aircraft Title	Take Off Roll Performance
	Takeoff roll to clear 50ft (15.25m) @ ISA conditions
SPEED 2000	600m
SPEED 4000	600m
SPEED 6000	-

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Endurance

Aircraft Title	Range
SPEED 2000	5 Hrs
SPEED 4000	6 Hrs
SPEED 6000	-

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Fuel Consumption

Aircraft Title	Fuel Consumption
SPEED 2000	14-20 Litres/Hr
SPEED 4000	25-45 Litres/Hr
SPEED 6000	-

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Materials and Construction

Quality structurally tested welded aircraft grade chrome moly steel frame.

Aluminumun construction box section wings.

Non structural composite fuselage. Able to be painted as you choose.

Structurally molded epoxy flying control surcfaces.

All controls are mass balanced and aerodynamically balanced for added control of stick forces and light stick control pressure.

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