Robin R2160 / Alpha 160

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R2160 / Alpha 160A
Robin R.2160D (D-EIWR) 03
Type: Sports and aerobatic aircraft
Design country:

FranceFrance France

Manufacturer:

Avions Pierre Robin

First flight:

15th January 1976

Commissioning:

1977

Production time:

1976-?

Number of pieces:

> 300

PH-SVN (7093545777)

The Acrobin (R2160) is a two-seat sport and aerobatic airplane . It was developed as a good-natured trainer aircraft with the opportunity to learn the basics of aerobatics. In contrast to high-performance aerobatic planes, the rudder forces are designed in such a way that a student pilot can hardly exceed the permitted g-forces through control inputs. The R2160 has seats next to each other and an unusually high payload for an aerobatic plane and is therefore also suitable as a touring plane. Although it was produced between 1976 and 2013 under different names in different countries and by different companies, the basic construction has proven itself and only small details have been changed.

history

Constructed by Christophe Heintz in his time as chief designer at Avions Robin, the two-seater HR200 / R2000 family (ICAO type designator: R200) ​​is designed as an all-metal aircraft with strong optical borrowings in the design of the wooden Robin DR 400 . It offers the excellent visibility of the Robin aircraft; Visually, it differs from the successful model DR 400 from Robin with gull wing, which is based on the yodel, mainly through the straight wing . As a further development of the original HR200 family, which was not capable of aerobatics, the R2000 family received a new wing section and a greatly enlarged vertical stabilizer with a noticeable ventral fin to improve the recovery of spins. It offers some new technical features that contribute to safety, such as B. Double control sticks that end in a common central column under the dashboard and are thus better protected against accidental blocking by slipping seat cushions or impact by passengers. First flight was in 1976, the R2160 was first built in France (Dijon Darois ) by Avions Pierre Robin (later APEX Aircraft); under license also in Canada and finally from 2004 to 2008 in New Zealand (as Alpha 160). A total of over 300 examples were built, of which many are still in use. Some less motorized and non-aerobatic variants were also produced. Alpha Aviation Concept Ltd., which belongs to a holding company in Hong Kong . in Hamilton , New Zealand is the current holder of the type certificate and continues to supply certified spare parts.

nomenclature

It emerged over the years primarily due to different engine types, but also due to the different production locations, some variants and sub-names of the type, sometimes and not consistently provided with additional names (Alpha Sport, Alpha, Sport, Club, Acrobin). The aerobatic R2160 / Alpha 160 with a 160 HP engine was built most frequently. Both the HR200 and the R2160 and their variants such as the Alpha 160i are designated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) with the common type designator R200. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Office refer to the R2160 and its variants R2100, R2112 and R2120 as the R2000 series when issuing technical reports and airworthiness directives , but the R2000 itself does not exist. The current manufacturer summarizes the aircraft as the Alpha 2000 series. The CAA, the national authority currently responsible for the type, calls the R 2000 series . On Spotter pages, the model names are often incorrectly marked with a dot (e.g. BR2160). The EASA Type Certificate TCDS-A.086 specifies the technical differences between the approved variants in detail.

variants

Avions Pierre Robin / Apex

R2100
identical to the R2160 except for the weaker Lycoming O-235 H2C engine, without propeller spinner and wheel covers
R2100A
identical to the R2100 with increased take-off mass, with propeller spinner and wheel covers
R2112
Successor to the R2100 with 83.5 kW (112 hp) Lycoming O-235 L2A or L2C engine and new air intake
R2120U
Non-aeronautical variant derived from the R2112, with a Lycoming O-235 L2A engine, with a small vertical tail and without a ventral fin, originally without a propeller spinner and wheel covers
R2160
with 119 kW (160 hp) Lycoming O-320 D2A engine, the typical Acrobin
R2160D
Technically identical to the R2160 version, but with a reduced maximum permitted speed, approved according to German noise limits.
R2160i
identical to R2160, but with Lycoming AEIO-320 D2B injection engine, so that also allows longer inverted

Alpha Aviation

Alpha 120T
New Zealand version of the R2120U, not capable of aerobatics, with a small vertical tail and without a ventral fin, with wheel covers
Alpha 160A
New Zealand version of the R2160 with minor modifications
Alpha 160Ai
New Zealand version of the R2160i with Lycoming AEIO-320 D2B injection engine also allows longer inverted flight

Technical specifications

  • ICAO Type Designator: R200
  • Data for variant R2160:
  • Engine: Lycoming O320 D2A, power 160HP
  • Fuel quantity: 1 fuselage tank 120L (optionally 160L)
  • Span: 8.33 m
  • Wing area: 13 m²
  • Body length: 7.10 m
  • Empty weight: 590 kg
  • Max. Takeoff weight: 900 kg (800 kg for some variants and when used as an aerobatic plane)
  • Cruising speed: 120 kt (220 km / h)
  • Top speed: 178.5 kt (331 km / h)
  • Max. G-forces: −3 / + 6 g

Approved aerobatic maneuvers (R2160 / R2160D): looping , roll , turn , Immelmann , downturn , spin , snap roll

The data may vary depending on the model and equipment.

See also

Web links

Commons : Robin R2000  - Collection of Images

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ EASA.IM.A.086 (PDF). easa.europa.eu . Retrieved June 20, 2015.