A Bipe With Folding Wings, Convertible Cockpit and Aerobatic Goodness!

Sometimes its enough just to be cute... but it doesn't hurt to have a whole lot of other attributes to with one's cuteness... and the Comet FK-12 has that game down pat. A two seat tandem bird, the FK-12 is distributed in the USA by Hansen Air Group.

The aircraft is currently available, as a non-aerobatic mount with a Rotax 912S, while an aerobatic version, using a Lycoming AEIO-233 is in development. A taildragger, the aircraft boasts conventional stick and rudder controls and cruise speeds in the 90-100 knot range. A magnificently designed convertible enclosure system allows one to choose a two pilot bubble canopy, a dual pilot open cockpit arrangement or a single bubble enclosure for one pilot. Each of these cockpit systems can be changed out in a matter of minutes.

With over 100 FK-12 Comets flying worldwide, the design is still fairly new to the USA, but gaining interest rapidly. Heading for availability as an LSA bird, the aircraft has previously been available in Europe as an amateur built kit.

A short test flight at Sebring, with a far aft CG (but within limits) and pretty much a gross weight load, offered the better part of 1000 FPM in a climb to 2500 feet and a pretty good slow speed capability down to and through 40 knots. 35 knots is the posted stall speed. ANN is looking forward to a full flight test of the Lycoming powered aerobatic version shortly.

FMI: www.hansenairgroup.com, www.fk-lightplanes.com, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork, http://twitter.com/AeroNews