Best Off Skyranger

The Best Off Skyranger is a French-designed two-seat ultralight utility aircraft, produced by Best Off, of Toulouse. It is a high-wing conventional monoplane with tricycle undercarriage, and of fabric-covered tubular construction.^[1][2]

For the wheeled anti-aircraft systems, see Skyranger 30 and Skyranger 35.

Skyranger
Best Off Aviation Skyranger on skis at Montebello, Quebec 2005
General information
Type	Ultralight aircraft
Manufacturer	Best Off Aviation
Number built	about 900
History
Introduction date	1990
Variants	Best Off Nynja Rainbow Cheetah Synairgie Jet Ranger

Best Off Aviation Skyranger being tied down at Sun 'n Fun 2006

Skyranger cockpit with optional extended panel

The Skyranger is also manufactured under licence by Aero Bravo in Brazil, SkyRanger Aircraft in the United States (as a kit), Aeros in Ukraine and at least 150 were built by Synairgie in France, too.^[3]

Some 900 are flying throughout the world.^[1]

Variants

Skyranger

Original model, introduced 1990.^[2]

Skyranger Vfun

Renamed original model for the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight class. Standard engines available are the 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 two-stroke, the 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912UL, the 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS, 85 hp (63 kW) Jabiru 2200, the 60 to 80 hp (45 to 60 kW) VW and the 60 hp (45 kW) HKS 700E four-stroke powerplants. The aircraft has also been equipped with the JLT Motors Ecoyota engine.^[2][4][5]

Skyranger Vmax

Improved model for United Kingdom BCAR Section "S" certification, with ventral fin. Standard engines available are the 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 two-stroke, the 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912UL, the 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS, 85 hp (63 kW) Jabiru 2200, the 60 to 80 hp (45 to 60 kW) VW and the 60 hp (45 kW) HKS 700E four-stroke powerplants.^[2][5]

Skyranger Swift

Improved model based on the Vmax for the US light-sport aircraft market, with reduced wingspan.^[6]

Reusable Bomber Drones

On 26 April 2024, 6 photos surfaced online, taken somewhere in Russia, which appeared to show a crashed Skyranger Swift 2 fitted with a single OFAB-100-120 bomb. Along with other equipment to allow for it to become a “remotely piloted bomber”. Skyranger had been contacted and said it could be an existing aircraft or one built from a kit worth $55,000.00. Ukraine has previously modified a Aeroprakt A-22 Foxbat into a kamikaze drone.^[7]

Specifications (Skyranger)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: one pilot
• Capacity: one passenger
• Length: 5.50 m (18 ft 1 in)
• Wingspan: 9.50 m (31 ft 2 in)
• Height: 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)
• Wing area: 14.10 m² (151.8 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 250 kg (551 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 560 kg (1,235 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 50 L (13 US gal; 11 imp gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912UL flat-four, 59.6 kW (79.9 hp)

Performance

• Cruise speed: 150 km/h (93 mph, 81 kn) (max cruise)
• Stall speed: 64 km/h (40 mph, 35 kn) (flaps down)
• Never exceed speed: 195 km/h (121 mph, 105 kn)
• Rate of climb: 4.6 m/s (900 ft/min)

See also

Comparable aircraft

• Ikarus C42
• Raj Hamsa X-Air "H" Hanuman

Notes

1. Jackson 2003, p. 118.
2. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 33. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
3. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 265. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
4. JLT Motors (2007). "Le Nouveau Moteur 4 Temps Pour Ulm". ecoyota.neuf.fr. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
5. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 34. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
6. Best Off (2010). "Skyranger Swift". Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
7. HOWARD ALTMAN (26 April 2024). "Ukraine Appears To Be Using Light Planes Converted Into Reusable Bomber Drones". TWZ. Retrieved 28 April 2024.

References

• Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.

External links

• Official website