Recon Airplane

Fun and Adventure Await You!

History

There’s been a myriad of improved renditions based upon Dean Wilson’s Avid Flyer concept, which features an extremely simple yet highly effective folding high-wing airplanes.
One such design rendition was the Apollo Fox (called Apollo LSA in the US) from its Hungarian origins. That design has flown around the world (15534 miles in 2003) a couple of times for charities and a few hundred are flying around the world. In 2007/8, a US company partnered with the Hungarian production house to make the airplane a LSA and comply structurally and for flight with ASTM standards. This required structural changes to increase gross weight and changes to flight surfaces to comply with stability standards.

The fuel tank and system, electrical system, instrument panel and firewall forward installation were redesigned for compliance in the US. This reengineering and testing were done on behalf of or by the US entity and the Light Sport compliant version of that plane was born. Kits of subcontracted assemblies were sent from Hungary and assembled in US factory, complying with various ASTM standards to get Special Light Sport Aircraft airworthiness. The US market, however, wanted an even bigger size providing for more comfort, baggage capacity and utility.

As the Apollo LSA US entity partnership unfolded, one of the founding members and engineers went to start SilverLight Aviation, which still supports the Apollo LSA model. Now after many years, we are partnering with the Hungarian manufacturing partners again to bring the bigger brother of this well-proven platform.

This is the Recon.

Almost a foot and half longer, able to accommodate larger engines with more power, larger baggage capacity, a newly redesigned tail, different wing platform for better lift, gross weight of 1320 pounds for Light Sport or up to 1450 pounds for private pilot owners.

Features

  • Folding Wings: Honest 10-to-15-minute wing folding by a single person
  • Exceptional Visibility: Exceptional visibility with clear polycarbonate all around you. Tinted polycarbonate can also be used
  • Exciting Performance: Whether it is the standard 100 HP or the heart thumping 160 HP engine, you will get exciting performance
  • Great Handling: Responsive balanced controls
  • Respectable Cruise: With standard tires and wheel pants it is able to cruise at around 100 knots even with the base 100 HP engine with 75% power
  • Wider Cabin: More comfort with 46.5″ max width at elbows in the cabin with gull doors, 44″ at the hips
  • Luggage: Up to 150 pounds of luggage (depending on gross weight selection)
  • Luggage Access: Optional access from the outside
  • Quick-build Builder’s Assist: The kit can come quick-build with covered surfaces, so you spend less time building and more time flying. No thousands of hours and 2 to 3 years in the garage when you take our builder’s assist!
  • Recon Combo: This optional configuration allows you to go between a taildragger or tricycle gear in a short time
  • Larger Tires: For grass fields and soft fields. At the expense of a bit slower cruise you can use bush wheels, anything from 21 inches to 29 inches
  • Avionics: Standard day VFR package of analog gauges with digital engine monitoring or a Garmin G5 PFD or a full Garmin G3X stack with optional 2 axis auto-pilot
  • Seats: Optional adjustable sliding and removable seats – you can stay in your airplane if you desire with the seats pulled out
  • Cabane-style Shock Gear: Possible to install shock absorber equipped Cabane gear instead of bespoke leaf spring for even more off-field fun
  • Composite flaperons
  • All Aluminum ribs


All this is possible!

Whether you want a quick-fold wing airplane because hangar space is limited, or you just want to fly it to back-country strips from near national parks. Whether you are trailering the aircraft behind you or even cruising at 100 knots plus, to visit friends at other airports with 130 pounds of luggage – we have the airplane to do it!

Come open up the sky for fun with Recon.

Configurations

  • Recon Taildragger
  • Recon Tricycle gear
  • Recon Combo (Go from taildragger to tricycle gear airplane in a short time)

Specifications

Power: 100 – 160 HP
Max Take-off Weight: 1320 lbs with 912ULS engine (LSA), 1500 lbs with 915iS/916iS engine (Other)
Empty Weight: 750 – 815 lbs (depending on engine, wheels, tires and other options)
Max. Baggage: 100 to 150 pounds depending on engine and gross weight selection
Wingspan: 30.25 feet (approx)
Wing Area: 125 sq.ft
Length: 20′ 6″
Length with Wings Folded: 21′ 8″
Total Width with Folded Wings: 95″
Height: 67″ (standard tires – not counting ELT antenna)
Fuel Capacity: 28 US Gallons
Stall Speed: 34 – 40 knots CAS
Maximum Speed (Vh): 115 kts
Speed Never Exceed (Vne): 130 kts
Cruise Speed: 105 kts TAS at 6000 feet (with standard tires and wheel pants)
Take-off Ground Roll (prepared surface): 120 to 300 feet (depending on engine)
Landing Roll (prepared surface): 300 feet
Range: 520 NM
Limit G Load: +4, -2
Max Cabin Width: 44″, 46.5″ (at elbows with gullwing doors)
Rate of Climb: 750 – 1700 FPM (depending on engine)