The Velocity XL (XL: Extra Large) is an American amateur-built aircraft, produced by Velocity, Inc. It is an enlarged version of their Velocity SE canard pusher design.

Design and development

Gear retraction of a Velocity on takeoff

The Velocity XL is 12in (310mm) longer and has a 20in (510mm) greater span than the SE. The standard XL has a cruising range of 875 nautical miles (1,620km; 1,007mi) and a 75% power cruising speed of 185 knots (213mph; 343km/h) air speed.

The XL is available in both fixed gear (FG) and retractable gear (RG) form and can accommodate either three or four passengers plus a pilot. The five seat versions, the XL-5 and the TXL-RG-5, have a rear bench seat for three rather than the alternative separate pair of seats.

Engines available as kits from the manufacturer for all models are the Lycoming IO-360 of 180 to 200hp (134 to 149kW), Lycoming IO-540 of 260 to 300hp (194 to 224kW), Continental IO-550 of 310 to 350hp (231 to 261kW) and the Franklin 6A350C1 of 205 to 235hp (153 to 175kW). Builders may use these manufacturer kits or design their own engine installations using a variety of other engines of similar power output.

Variants

Velocity XL-RG
Velocity V-Twin

Velocity XL-FG

Fixed landing gear version with a gross weight of 2,700lb (1,225kg). Forty had been completed and flown by December 2011.

Velocity XL-FG-5

Fixed landing gear version with a gross weight of 2,900lb (1,315kg). Twenty-one had been completed and flown by December 2011.

Velocity XL-RG

Retractable landing gear version, with a gross weight of 2,700lb (1,225kg). 150 had been completed and flown by December 2011.

Velocity TXL-RG-5

Retractable landing gear version, with gross weight of 2,900lb (1,315kg). Eighteen had been completed and flown by December 2011.

Velocity V-Twin

Twin engine prototype, three built, powered by two Superior IO-320-A engines.

Rocket Racers

Rocket Racer at Tulsa International Airport, April 2010

The now-defunct Rocket Racing League utilized a highly modified Velocity XL FG airframe and an Armadillo Aerospace 2,500 pound thrust liquid oxygen (LOX) and ethanol rocket engine in both its Mark-II X-Racer and Mark-III X-Racer demonstration vehicles. The Mark-II utilized a standard fixed-gear Velocity XL airframe, modified for rocket propulsion. The Mark-III airframe was more extensively customized during manufacture, explicitly for rocket racing, with a canopy top, center seat and control stick and other enhancements, in addition to the rocket propulsion added to the Mark-II.

Specifications (XL-RG)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2013/14

General characteristics

  • Crew: One
  • Capacity: Three
  • Length: 20ft 0in (6.10m)
  • Wingspan: 31ft 0in (9.45m) rear wing; forewing 13 ft 8 in (4.17 m)
  • Height: 8ft 5in (2.56m)
  • Wing area: 102sqft (9.5m2) rear wing.
  • Empty weight: 1,700lb (771kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,701lb (1,225kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 265L (58impgal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental IO-550 air-cooled flat six, 310hp (230kW)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed Catto

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 240mph (380km/h, 210kn) normal at 75% power
  • Stall speed: 75mph (121km/h, 65kn)
  • Range: 1,150mi (1,850km, 1,000nmi) at 65% power
  • g limits: +9/-7
  • Take-off run: 1,300ft (396m)
  • Landing run: 1,500ft (457m)

See also

External links