Robin X4
| X4 | |
|---|---|
| Role | Experimental four-seat light aircraft |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Avions Robin
|
| First flight | 25 February 1991 |
| Number built | 1 |
The Robin X4 was an
Avions Robin to test different wing configurations and construction materials.[1] The X4 was a low-wing monoplane with a tricycle landing gear and powered by a 116 hp (87 kW) Textron Lycoming engine.[1]
Design and development
Originally designed as a 4-seat
V tail to a more conventional cruciform type. The fuselage was fibreglass and epoxy in a Nomex sandwich, which allowed more fluid curves, and was generally triangular in cross-section, like the Me 262.[3] The landing gear was from a DR.400, and the forward-tilting canopy from an ATL.[4][5] The wings were wood and fabric, like those of a standard DR.400, but of constant dihedral; the wooden construction allowed modifications to be made quickly and cheaply.[4] The rudder and ailerons were of metal construction.[4]
It first flew on 25 February 1991, with Robin head of development Daniel Müller at the controls; whilst designed as a four-seater, only the front two seats were installed with the rear being taken up with test equipment. The airframe was used to test various wing profiles, especially laminar flow; the feasibility of producing a composite-material aircraft; and to test new systems (e.g. rod rather than cable controls).[4]
Testing at
stall unsuitable for a training aircraft.[6] According to Robin and Besse, the airframe was capable of eventually being a whole series up to 4+2 seat configuration with correspondingly larger engines, and be a potential competitor to the Cirrus SR22. The new owners of Avions Robin were not interested in the design, and it was ultimately scrapped.[6]
Variants
- Robin X4
- Lycoming 116hp O-235N engine, registration F-WKQX; one built; voluntarily destroyed
References
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Besse, Francois La Saga Robin (de 1957 à nos jours). Mayenne: Jouve, 2012.
- Lambert, Mark Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1994-95. Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group, 1994. ISBN 0-7106-1160-9
- Masse, Xavier Avions Robin (du Jodel-Robin de 1957 au DR.500 de 2000). Paris: Nouvelles Editions Latines, 2000.