Aérokart 3315 / 4315

The A-Kart 30 was developed into two other prototypes; the tandem 4320 two-seater and the single-seat 3315, both of which made their first flights at the beginning of summer 1982. Aerokart continued the trials, refining and developing the machines, until that Septem-ber, at the first European Microlight Salon at Lyon-Bron, it was able to show two pre-production machines. The first was a single--seater, the type 3315 and the second was the 4320 side-by-side two-seater. Both went on sale in November 1982, though the company has put most of its marketing effort into the Aerokart two-seater. This manufacturer uses the first two digits of the type number to indicate the maximum power of the motor used, while the last two numbers indicate the wing area in square metres.

The single-seater 3315 uses a Hirth 260R engine of 338 cc developing 33 hp at 7250 rpm, with a 23/1 reduction drive and a 51 inch (1.3m) two-blade propeller. The type 4315 is more powerful and is fitted with a Hirth 2701R, 493cc engine developing 43hp at 6750rpm with toothed-belt reduction. Of traditional configuration, these machines use of ailerons instead of spoilers, and their engine is fitted inverted in front of the wing below the level of the leading edge. It drives through the reduction drive to a shaft which crosses the wing to connect with a pusher propeller at the trailing edge. Flexible mountings absorb the vibrations caused by using such a long shaft whilst retaining for the Aerokart the advan-tages of prop-wash over the tail surfaces and a well cooled engine. The machine is transportable on a road trailer.

4315
Engine: Hirth 2701R-03, 43 hp at 6750 rpm     
Propeller: 55 x 32 in / 1.4 x 0.8 m
Reduction ratio: 2.5/1                
Max static thrust: 287 lb / 130 kg
Power per unit area: 0.27hp/sq.ft / 2.9hp/sq.m        
Wing span: 34.5ft / 10.5m.
Fuel capacity main: 5.3 US gal, 4.4 Imp gal, 20.0 lt    
Constant chord: 4.8ft / 1.43m.
Fuel capacity reserve: 2.6 US gal, 2.2 Imp gal, 10.0 lt     
Dihedral: 1.5 degrees
Total aileron area: 25.9 sq.ft / 2.4 sq.m         
Sweepback: 0 degrees
Total wing area: 161 sq.ft / 15.0 sq.m         
Tailplane span: 9.1 ft / 3.0 m
Fin area: 7.5 sq.ft / 0.7 sq.m         
Rudder area: 12.1 sq.ft / 1.12 sq.m
Tailplane area: 21.6 sq.ft / 2.0 sq.m        
Wing aspect ratio: 7.35/1
Total elevator area: 12.3 sq.ft / 1.14 sq.m        
Wheel track: 5.7 ft / 1.70 m
Nosewheel dia. overall: 10 in / 26 cm            
Wheelbase: 5.8ft / 1.72 m
Main wheels dia. Overall: 16 in / 40cm            
Empty weight: 278 lb / 126 kg
Max take-off weight: 497 lb / 225 kg            
Payload: 219 lb / 99 kg
Max wing loading: 3.07 lb/sq.ft / 15.0 kg/sq.m        
Max pwr loading: 11.6 lb/hp / 5.2kg/hp
Load factors: +5.5, -2.5 design            
Max level speed:65 mph / 105 kph
Never exceed speed: 75 mph / 120 kph            
Max cruise: 56 mph / 90 kph
Economic cruising speed: 50 mph / 80 kph            
Stalling speed: 22 mph / 35 kph
Max climb rate at SL: 600ft/min / 3.0m/s        
Take-off dist: 165 ft / 50 m
Best glide pwr off: 8/1 at 40 mph / 65 kph         
Landing distance:     82 ft / 25 m
Range ave. cruise: 186 sm / 300 km            
Service ceiling: 10,000 ft / 3050 m
Min sink rate: 430 ft/min at 31 mph / 2.2 m/s at 50 kph