Edgley Optica

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The Edgley EA7 Optica was a British light aircraft designed for observation work, intended as as a low-cost alternative to helicopters, retailing originally at around US$200,000.

The Optica, designed by John Edgley and built by Brooklands Aerospace, had an unusual configuration with a fully-glazed forward cabin seating three across, reminiscent of an Alouette helicopter. Behind it was situated a Lycoming flat-six engine powering a ducted fan, twin boom cantilever tailplane with twin rudders and a high-mounted single elevator. The fixed tricycle undercarriage had the nosewheel offset to port. The wings were unswept and untapered, and the aircraft was of a fairly standard all-metal construction with stressed aluminium skin. The aircraft's distinctive appearance led to it being known as the "bug-eye" in some popular reports.

It first flew on 14 December 1979 ^[1], entering production in mid 1983. A crash of police Optica G-KATY on 15 May 1985 killed two members of the Hampshire Constabulary. The cause was suspected to be a stall : insufficient airspeed during a turn causing instability. The reason for the low speed was never established. This led to the bankruptcy of Edgley, with Optica Industires being formed in October 1985 to continue production and 25 were built before a fire caused by arson destroyed the factory. The company was reformed again as Brooklands Aircraft, and the Optica returned to production, production ceasing in March 1990, when Brooklands Aircraft went bankrupt. An example featured in the 1989 movie Slipstream.

The first 19 of the production run have been grounded by the FAA due to cracks developed in the wing spars.

[edit] Specifications (Optica)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 1988-1989 ^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: Three
• Length: 8.15 m (26 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 12.0 m (39 ft 4 in)
• Height: 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in)
• Wing area: 15.8 m² (171 ft²)
• Airfoil: NASA GA(W)-1
• Empty weight: 948 kg (2,090 lb)
• Loaded weight: kg (lb)
• Useful load: kg (kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 1,315 kg (2,900 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Textron Lycoming IO-540-V4A5D flat six piston engine, 194 kW (260 hp)

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 259 km/h (140 knots, 161 mph)
• Maximum speed: 213 km/h (115 knots, 132 mph)
• Cruise speed: 130 km/h (70 knots, 81 mph) (loiter speed, 40% power)
• Stall speed: 108 km/h (58 knots, 67 mph)
• Range: 1056 km (570 nm, 656 mi)
• Service ceiling: 4275 m (14000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 4.12 m/s (810 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 83.0 kg/m² (17.0 lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: 0.148 kW/kg (0.0897 hp/lb)
• Endurance: 8 h (at loiter speed)

[edit] References

1. ^ Donald, David (Editor) (1997). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Aerospace Publishing. ISBN ISBN 1-85605-375-X. 
2. ^ Taylor, JWR (Editor) (1988). Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 1988-1989. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0 7106-0867-5. 

Photos (G-BMPL) (G-BGMW) (G-BOPN)