IPAI-26 Tuca

IPAI-26 Tuca
Role	Light aircraft
National origin	Brazil
Manufacturer	Instituto de Pesquisas e Aperfeiçoamento Industrial
Designer	D. Lucato
First flight	1979
Number built	1

The IPAI-26 Tuca was a Brazilian single engined high-wing light utility aircraft.

Design and development

The project was born by engineer D. Lucato, who had just finished his degree in aeronautical engineering at the Federal University of São Carlos, a simple and economical two-seater airplane capable of landing at airports with limited infrastructure.^[1]

The aircraft was designed as a shoulder-wing monoplane with conventional T-tail and rigid nose wheel landing gear. The fuselage was made of welded steel tubes and was clad with composite materials, while the braced wings were made of wood. The cabin, which was entered through side doors, had three seats, with the third seat removable to load cargo. The aircraft was powered by a Lycoming O-235-C-1 4-stroke boxer engine producing 80 kW.^[2]

Variant

IPAI-3: Designation of the planned production version, whose newly developed wings would have had a supercritical airfoil and integrated flaps.^[3]

Specifications

Data from Pereira 1986, p. 298, Taylor 1981, p. 20

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Capacity: 2
Length: 6.82 m (22 ft 5 in)
Wingspan: 11 m (36 ft 1 in)
Height: 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in)
Wing area: 16.99 m² (182.9 sq ft)
Airfoil: NACA 23012
Max takeoff weight: 700 kg (1,543 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-235-C1 4-stroke boxer engine, 81 kW (108 hp)
Propellers: 2-bladed

Performance

Maximum speed: 190 km/h (120 mph, 100 kn)
Cruise speed: 185 km/h (115 mph, 100 kn)
Stall speed: 76 km/h (47 mph, 41 kn)
Endurance: 1 h 30 m
Service ceiling: 3,660 m (12,010 ft)

References

^ Pereira, Roberto (1986). História da Construção Aeronáutica no Brasil 1910-1976. Vol. 1. São Paulo: Editora Aquarius. p. 296. ISBN 9788585262693.
^ Pereira, Roberto (2013). Construção Aeronáutica no Brasil - 100 Anos de História. Vol. 1. São José dos Campos: JAC Editora. p. 200. ISBN 978-85-85262-69-3.
^ Taylor, J. W. R. (1981). Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft 1981–82. Vol. 1. London, UK: Jane's Publishing Company. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-7106-0729-4.

External links

Photo of the IPAI-26 Tuca

[Pereira-1] Pereira, Roberto (1986). História da Construção Aeronáutica no Brasil 1910-1976. Vol. 1. São Paulo: Editora Aquarius. p. 296. ISBN 9788585262693.

[Pereira2-2] Pereira, Roberto (2013). Construção Aeronáutica no Brasil - 100 Anos de História. Vol. 1. São José dos Campos: JAC Editora. p. 200. ISBN 978-85-85262-69-3.

[Taylor-3] Taylor, J. W. R. (1981). Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft 1981–82. Vol. 1. London, UK: Jane's Publishing Company. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-7106-0729-4.

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