Javelin Model Enhanced
Preparing for Production
MicroLightJets.com News
Englewood, Colorado-June 28, 2006—— Aviation Technology Group, Inc. announced the following design changes to
its Javelin aircraft: an increase in wing size, enhancement of wing lift
devices, and improvement to the canopy opening mechanism. These constitute
the last major design changes to the Javelin, freezing its configuration to
enable suppliers to start producing the production airframe parts.
To achieve a lower stall speed, resulting in slower and safer approaches
and landings, designers have increased the wing span by 1.85 feet and the
wing area by 29 square feet. The wings were further enhanced with Fowler
flaps and leading edge flaps. Aerodynamicists expect these wing improvements
to yield a 5 to 7-knot decrease in stall speed, lowering Javelin’s stall
speed to 90 knots.
Engineers also implemented design improvements to the Javelin's canopy
system. Under advisement from ATG’s Pilot-vehicle Interface Working Group,
designers selected an aft-hinge canopy opening mechanism to replace the less
conventional side-opening arrangement. Removal of the side hinges gives the
new canopy a more aerodynamic profile, enables ground operations with an
open canopy in winds up to 40 knots, and allows Javelin pilots to taxi with
improved visibility and cockpit ventilation. The new canopy also features a
gas spring and electric motor combination, which allows pilots to open and
close the canopy with the push of a button.
Changes to the wing and canopy have resulted in a nominal weight increase
and a small decrease the Javelin’s cruise speed to 500 knots. After a
thorough review and acceptance by ATG engineering staff and executive
management, the overall benefits of these final design changes were
confirmed by a series of wind tunnel tests conducted at the University of
Washington Aeronautics Laboratory in May.
"ATG has always emphasized safety as a priority," noted Charlie Johnson,
president of ATG. “And, lower stall speed provides an extra margin of safety
during critical takeoff and landing phases.”
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