Champion Lancer
Champion 402 Lancer | |
---|---|
Role | Civil training aircraft |
Manufacturer | Champion Aircraft Corporation
|
First flight | 1961[1][2] |
Introduction | 1963 |
Produced | 1963[1][2] |
Number built | 25[2]-36[1] |
Developed from | Champion 7FC Tri-Traveler |
The Champion 402 Lancer is a twin-engine
Design and development
The Lancer achieved its goal of being the least expensive American-built twin engine airplane. Other design goals included simplicity, ease of maintenance, low operating costs, and the ability to operate from rough or unimproved strips. The high wing and high engine position give good propeller clearance in achieving that last goal. The Lancer is of metal tube construction with fiberglass covering and has fixed landing gear and propellers.[1]
The Lancer was designed specifically for flight schools seeking an inexpensive way to train students for a
The prototype Lancer underwent development between 1961 and the start of production in 1963. The changes included relocating the
Flight characteristics
The Lancer's performance when flying on a single engine is notably poor; in a column for
Criticisms of the Lancer are not limited to its single-engine performance or lack thereof. The engine nacelle placement hampers visibility,[4][5][7] particularly for the rear-seat pilot,[5] and for both pilots during banked turns.[4] Schiff compares the engine nacelles to "...horse blinders that [result] in disorienting tunnel vision".[5] The close proximity of the engines and propellers to the front-seat pilot's head create elevated noise levels described as "remarkable"[4] or even "paralyzing".[7] The sidewall-mounted elevator trim lever looks very similar to the throttle lever of the single-engine Aeronca Champion, but pushing the lever forward results in nose-down trim rather than increased engine power as in most Champion types; this creates a risk that an experienced Champion pilot may confuse the two controls when piloting the Lancer, with potentially catastrophic consequences if he/she instinctively pushes the lever fully forward to arrest an unwanted rate of descent.[5] The 1 inch (25 mm) wide vertical center bar in the windshield impairs the pilot's view of the runway on landing.[3]
With both engines functioning, the Lancer is relatively slow in cruise and exhibits a mediocre climb rate, particularly given its twin-engine layout and resultant higher operating costs compared to a single-engine airplane. Its lackluster performance is generally attributed to abundant
Operational history
Some flight schools initially viewed the Lancer's marginal single-engine performance favorably, as students trained in a Lancer found other twin-engine types comparatively easy to fly.[3] However, sales were very limited; production began in 1963 and ended later in the same year with only 25[2] to 36[1] aircraft built. As of March 2019, the highest serial number of any 402 Lancer in the FAA aircraft registry was 25.[9]
As of 2018, FAA flight test standards require a pilot to demonstrate feathering a propeller during the practical test to obtain a multiengine rating;[10] this effectively makes it impossible to complete the test in a Lancer with its fixed-pitch props.
Despite the aircraft's drawbacks, Lancer ownership has been described as potentially attractive because it is "...an oddity and rarity of aviation..." and "Its appearance does attract and invite attention."[4]
As of March 2019, nine Lancers remain on the FAA
Specifications (Champion 402)
Data from Flying, unless otherwise noted
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Length: 22 ft 3 in (6.78 m)
- Wingspan: 34.45 ft (10.50 m)
- Height: 10 ft (3.0 m)
- Wing area: 170 sq ft (16 m2)
- Empty weight: 1,790 lb (812 kg)
- Gross weight: 2,450 lb (1,111 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 57 U.S. gallons (220 L; 47 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 2 × Continental O-200 , 100 hp (75 kW) each
- Propellers: 2-bladed McCauley[6] fixed pitch
Performance
- Maximum speed: 110 kn (130 mph, 210 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 103 kn (118 mph, 190 km/h)
- Stall speed: 56 kn (64 mph, 103 km/h)
- Never exceed speed: 141 kn (162 mph, 261 km/h) [6]
- Range: 390 nmi (450 mi, 720 km)
- Service ceiling: 14,500 ft (4,400 m)
- Rate of climb: 600 ft/min (3.0 m/s)
References
- Notes
- ^ Single-engine tandem Champion models generally have centre sticks for both pilots, while the single-engine side-by-side Aeronca Chief family generally uses dual control yokes.
- ^ Aileron trim was ground-adjustable only.
- ^ The elevator trim lever in single-engine tandem Champion models is typically mounted overhead between the seats.
- ^ The test flight was performed in and around Houston, Texas, a geographical area with an altitude very close to sea level, although density altitude is said to have been high during the test.
- Citations
- ^ a b c d e f "Champion Lancer". www.planeandpilotmag.com. Plane & Pilot. 1 August 2009. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ a b c d Simpson 1991, p. 12.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Schlaeger, Gerald J. (January 1964). "Pilot Report: Champion Lancer". Flying: 45, 58, 60.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "N9931Y, The Unusual Twin Engine 1963 Champion Lancer 402, Rev. 1". Airport-Data.com. 5 March 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
- ^ AOPA Pilot. 54 (4). Retrieved 7 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Type Certificate Data Sheet No. AC3E" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "The Pilot's Lounge #126: The Less-Than-Great Planes". AVweb.com. 19 May 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
- ^ Simpson 1991, p. 96.
- ^ a b Federal Aviation Administration (23 March 2019). "Make and Model Inquiry Results, Champion 402". Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ^ "Order 8900.2C: General Aviation Airman Designee Handbook" (PDF). www.faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. 26 June 2018. pp. 7–26. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
The feathering of one propeller must be demonstrated in flight in multiengine airplanes equipped with propellers which can be feathered and unfeathered.
- ^ "Aircraft type designators" (PDF). International Civil Aviation Organization. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ^ National Transportation Safety Board (20 November 2018). "Make and Model Inquiry Results, Champion 402". Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- ^ National Transportation Safety Board (20 November 2018). "NTSB Identification: NYC70AN073". Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- ^ National Transportation Safety Board (20 November 2018). "NTSB Identification: Unknown". Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- ^ National Transportation Safety Board (20 November 2018). "NTSB Identification: Unknown". Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- ^ National Transportation Safety Board (20 November 2018). "NTSB Identification: NYC71DHH01". Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- ^ National Transportation Safety Board (20 November 2018). "NTSB Identification: FTW81FPD19". Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- Bibliography
- Simpson, R.W. (1991). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury, England: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-194-X.
External links
- Schiff, Barry: "Lancer-Not: I flew the Lancer and lived," August 1, 2022, AOPA Pilot