Lewis Ascender
| Lewis Ascender | |
|---|---|
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| The Lewis Ascender at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in 2023 | |
| Role | Homebuilt bush aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Designer | Alec Wild Eric Lewis Doug Keller |
| First flight | April 2018 |
| Number built | 1 |
| Developed from | Wild DoubleEnder |
The Lewis Ascender is an American homebuilt bush aircraft designed by Alec Wild and Eric Lewis.
Design and development[edit]
The Ascender is a single-engined development of the Wild DoubleEnder, which itself is derived from the Piper PA-18 Super Cub.[1] Work on the Ascender began in 2016, with the aircraft being fully designed in CAD.[1] The wings were initially to be taken from the DoubleEnder, but were later entirely redesigned with mechanically actuated double-slotted flaps.[1] The leading-edge slats present on the DoubleEnder were removed on the new Ascender wing to reduce drag.[1] The Ascender's tail, which resembles that of the Super Cub, features a horizontal stabilizer with a symmetrical airfoil and an enlarged vertical stabilizer.[1] The Ascender's landing gear is fitted with 35-inch tires and oversized disc brakes.[1] The fuselage of the Ascender is built with 4130 chromoly steel, while the wings are aluminum.[1] The cockpit features a large bubble canopy and seats two in a side-by-side layout, and a bench seat behind the cockpit seats two additional passengers.[1] The aircraft was initially powered by a single 180 hp (130 kW) Superior Air Parts XP-400 engine mounted above the cockpit, but this was later replaced by a 225 hp (168 kW) Lycoming YIO-390-EXP.[1] Fuel is provided by a pair of 24-gallon tanks located in the wings.[1] A ballistic parachute can be installed as an option.[2]
Operational history[edit]
After a construction period of 18 months, the Ascender was first flown in April 2018.[1][2] Flight testing resulted in modifications to the engine cowling and ailerons.[1] In July 2018, the Ascender's Superior XP-400 engine suffered a crankshaft failure which resulted in the aircraft ditching in a lake in Alaska and sinking. The aircraft was subsequently recovered and, after two years of repairs, flew once again with a new Lycoming engine.[1]
Alec Wild and Eric Lewis have expressed interest in making an Ascender kit aircraft available to the public.[2]
Specifications[edit]
Data from [1]
General characteristics
- Capacity: 4
- Length: 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m)
- Wingspan: 37 ft (11 m)
- Height: 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m)
- Empty weight: 1,500 lb (680 kg)
- Gross weight: 2,500 lb (1,134 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 48 US gal (180 L)
- Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming YIO-390-EXP four-cylinder engine, 225 hp (168 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed Hartzell propeller
Performance
- Cruise speed: 114 mph (183 km/h, 99 kn)
- Stall speed: 35 mph (56 km/h, 30 kn)
- Never exceed speed: 140 mph (230 km/h, 120 kn)
Avionics
See also[edit]
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References[edit]
