Say Hello To The 'Turbine Toucan' | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-05.06.24

Airborne-NextGen-05.07.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.08.24 Airborne-FlightTraining-05.09.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.10.24

Thu, Apr 05, 2007

Say Hello To The 'Turbine Toucan'

750-HP Bipe Designed For Airshows

Imagine, if you will, a 1,650-lb biplane... powered by a 750-horsepower turboprop engine, delivering close to 3,000-lbs of thrust. If your heartbeat quickened reading the previous sentence, you're just the kind of aero-head Infinity Entertainment had in mind when conceiving the Turbine Toucan ultra-high performance bipe, which made its official debut Wednesday.

Billed by the company as the world's first-ever hovering biplane, the Turbine Toucan is expected to make its first flight later this month. Designed specifically for the airshow circuit, the company expects the Toucan to make attempts at four world records by the end of 2007, including the 66-year-old biplane speed record of 323 miles per hour.

The company tells ANN it also hopes to establish two new time-to-climb records, as well as becoming the first-ever biplane to hover over a set point on the ground.

The Toucan brings impressive punch to those attempts. Infinity states the Turbine Toucan is the only civilian aircraft with a positive thrust-to-weight ratio. To put this in perspective, the F/A-18 Hornet (at fighter mission weight) weights 36,700 lbs... and has 32,000 lbs of thrust. This works out to a .87:1 thrust-to-weight ratio. In comparison, the Turbine Toucan's performance is better than 1.5:1 with pilot and fuel.

According to figures posted on the company's website, the Toucan will be able to climb at 9500/fpm, and roll 360 degrees in just over one second. Maximum G-loading rates are forecast to be +9g/-7.5g... on par with some military fighter aircraft.

Infinity Entertainment makes no bones about the purpose of the Turbine Toucan: to bring something different to the air show circuit, which is attended by over 18 million people annually in the US alone.

"Why a biplane?" Infinity asks on its website. "Because 90% of the elite air show performers are using off the shelf, factory built monoplanes (which are incredible we might add) designed for unlimited aerobatic competition. We needed to stand apart. Biplanes offer strong emotional association with the romance of flight. It also allows us to be highly differentiated with the use of a turboprop power plant. A biplane allows us to draw rich cues deep from the past while incorporating contemporary styling and the latest aviation technological innovations."

And, from the sound of it... the ability to kick some serious tailfeathers, as well...

FMI: www.turbinetoucan.com

Advertisement

More News

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (05.09.24)

"Fly-by-wire flight, coupled with additional capability that are being integrated into ALFA, provide a great foundation for Bell to expand on its autonomous capabilities. This airc>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.09.24): Hold Procedure

Hold Procedure A predetermined maneuver which keeps aircraft within a specified airspace while awaiting further clearance from air traffic control. Also used during ground operatio>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.09.24)

Aero Linx: B-21 Raider The B-21 Raider will be a dual-capable penetrating strike stealth bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. The B-21 will form th>[...]

Airborne 05.03.24: Advanced Powerplant Solutions, PRA Runway Woes, Drone Racing

Also: Virgin Galactic, B-29 Doc to Allentown, Erickson Fire-Fighters Bought, FAA Reauthorization After dealing with a big letdown after the unexpected decision by Skyreach to disco>[...]

Airborne-NextGen 05.07.24: AI-Piloted F-16, AgEagle, 1st 2 WorldView Sats

Also: Skydio Chief, Uncle Sam Sues, Dash 7 magniX, OR UAS Accelerator US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall was given a turn around the patch in the 'X-62A Variable In-flight>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC