Aviastroitel AC-7M
# Aviastroitel AC-7M

The Aviastroitel AC-7M is a Russian mid-wing, T-tailed, two-seats in side-by-side configuration motor glider that was designed by Vladimir Egorovich Fedorov and produced by Aviastroitel, now Glider Air Craft.

## Design and development

Development of the AC-7M was started in 2002, it was first flown in 2005 and by 2006 two prototypes had been completed.

The AC-7M is a conventional self-launching sailplane, but is equipped with a more powerful retractable pusher configuration Hirth F30A25A 77.2 kW (104 hp) two stroke engine than is normal in these types, allowing it to be also used as a glider tug and as touring motor glider. The aircraft is capable of cruising at 180 km/h (112 mph) for 1,800 km (1,118 mi) while burning only 9 litres per hour (2.0 imp gal/h; 2.4 US gal/h) of fuel.

The AC-7M uses a two bladed wooden propeller of 1.18 m (46 in) diameter. The 18 m (59.1 ft) span wing employs a Wortmann FX60-157 airfoil and mounts Fowler flaps. The wings are mounted on the fuselage with a single cam-pin and the ailerons and air brakes hook-up automatically. The fixed landing gear consists of a narrow track pair of rubber-suspended 360 mm (14.2 in) main wheels, a 310 mm (12.2 in) nose wheel and a 200 mm (7.9 in) tail caster. The main wheels incorporate lever-actuated drum brakes. The cockpit can accommodate pilots up to 190 cm (74.8 in) in height. The canopy provides 300° field of view and is jettisonable. Assembly from its trailer takes four people 20 minutes.

The AC-7M was later developed into the unpowered and redesigned AC-7.

## Variants

### AC-7M

    Side-by-side, two seat motor glider with a retractable Hirth F30A25A 77.2 kW (104 hp) two stroke engine.

### AC-7K

    Development of the AC-7M, but with a fuselage-mounted Rotax 912ULS 73.5 kW (99 hp) four stroke engine, driving a retractable 1.18 m (46 in) diameter, two bladed wooden propeller.

## Specifications (AC-7M)

Data from Company

General characteristics

* Crew: one
* Capacity: one passenger
* Length: 7.15 m (23 ft 5 in)
* Wingspan: 18 m (59 ft 1 in)
* Height: 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
* Wing area: 13.5 $m^2$ (145 sq ft)
* Aspect ratio: 24:1
* Empty weight: 490 kg (1,080 lb)
* Gross weight: 680 kg (1,499 lb)
* Powerplant: 1 × Hirth F30A25A , 77.2 kW (103.5 hp)
* Propellers: 2-bladed, 1.180 m (3 ft 10 in) diameter

Performance

* Cruise speed: 180 km/h (110 mph, 97 kn)
* Stall speed: 74 km/h (46 mph, 40 kn)
* Never exceed speed: 220 km/h (140 mph, 120 kn)
* Range: 1,800 km (1,100 mi, 970 nmi)
* g limits: +5.3/-2.65
* Maximum glide ratio: 38:1 at 105 km/h (65 mph)
* Rate of climb: 4.5 m/s (890 ft/min)
* Rate of sink: 0.8 m/s (160 ft/min) at 110 km/h (68 mph)
* Wing loading: 50 $kg/m^2$ (10 lb/sq ft)
