Lucas L7

The Lucas L7, also called the L 7 and L-7, is a French amateur-built aircraft that was designed by Emile Lucas of Lagny-le-Sec. The aircraft is supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction.^[1][2]

L7
Role	Amateur-built aircraft
National origin	France
Designer	Emile Lucas
Status	Plans available (2012)

Design and development

The L7 features a strut-braced high-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit with doors for access, fixed main tricycle landing gear with a retractable nosewheel and a single engine in tractor configuration.^[1][2]

The aircraft is made from sheet aluminum. Its 10 m (32.8 ft) span wing has an area of 12 m² (130 sq ft) and mounts both flaps and leading edge slots for STOL performance. The standard engine used is the 118 hp (88 kW) Lycoming O-235 four-stroke powerplant which provides a cruise speed of 175 km/h (109 mph).^[1][2]

Reviewers Roy Beisswenger and Marino Boric described the design in a 2015 review as have a "somewhat boxy shape".^[2]

Specifications (L7)

Data from Bayerl and Tacke^[1][2]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: one passenger
• Wingspan: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)
• Wing area: 12 m² (130 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 500 kg (1,102 lb)
• Gross weight: 750 kg (1,653 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 120 litres (26 imp gal; 32 US gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-235 four cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 88 kW (118 hp)
• Propellers: 2-bladed metal

Performance

• Maximum speed: 190 km/h (120 mph, 100 kn)
• Cruise speed: 175 km/h (109 mph, 94 kn)
• Stall speed: 70 km/h (43 mph, 38 kn)
• Rate of climb: 3.5 m/s (690 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 62.5 kg/m² (12.8 lb/sq ft)