Avid Magnum
United States — single-engine two-seat high-wing kit-built monoplane

Archive Photos ¹

Avid Magnum (N35896, c/n 87M, 2003) on display 1/7/2006 at the Cable Airshow, Upland, CA (Photos by John Shupek)

Overview ²

• Avid Aircraft Magnum
• Role: Two-seat cabin monoplane
• National origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Avid Aircraft; Airdale Flyer Company
• Status: In production (2010)

The Avid Aircraft Magnum is an American two-seat homebuilt cabin monoplane which was designed and sold as kits by Avid Aircraft of Caldwell, Idaho.

Design and Development ²

The Magnum is a high-wing strut-braced monoplane with a welded steel tube fuselage, the wings have aluminium spars and wooden ribs covered with Ceconite. The Magnum was sold without an engine and was designed for a range of Lycoming engines from 115 to 180 hp (86 to 134 kW), for example the Lycoming O-235, O-320 or the O-360. The enclosed cabin has side-by-side configuration seating for two with an option for an additional seat in the baggage area for two children or a small adult. It has a fixed conventional landing gear with a tailwheel and some are fitted with floats.

By 2010 the aircraft was Back in production by the Airdale Flyer Company of Rhinelander, Wisconsin.

Specifications and Performance Data ³

Type

• Side-by-side two-seat homebuilt with dual control.

Customers

• About 800 flying (ca. 1995/1996)

Costs

• Kit US$18,995 without engine (1995/1996).

Design Features

• High-wing braced monoplane, similar to Avid Flyer, using a Textron Lycoming engine and having baggage area large enough to fit optional jump seat for small adult or two children.

Flying Controls

• Flaperons, elevators with adjustable trim tab, and rudder.

Structure

• Aluminum wing spars and plywood ribs, with Ceconite covering.
• Welded steel tube fuselage, rudder, tailplane and elevators, Ceconite covered except for fuselage nose which has pre-moulded GFRP cowlings.
• Fin integral with fuselage.

Landing Gear

• Non-retractable tailwheel type, with Cleveland wheels and brakes.
• Wheel fairings.

Power Plant

• One Textron Lycoming engine in 85.75 kW to 134 kW (115 hp to 180 hp) range, including O-235, O-320 and O-360.
• Fuel capacity 106 liters (28.0 US gallons; 23.3 Imp gallons).
• Optional 38 liter (10.0 US gallons; 8.3 Imp gallons) wingtip tanks available.

Accommodation

• Two seats side-by-side, with dual controls, plus optional jump seat for small adult or two children in 0.81 m³ (28.5 ft³) baggage area.

Dimensions, external

• Wing span: 10.06 m (33 ft 0 in)
• Wing chord, constant: 1.30 m (4 ft 3 in)
• Wing aspect ratio: 7.76
• Length overall: 6.4 m (21 ft 0 in)
• Height overall: 1.86 m (6 ft 1¼ in)

Dimensions, internal

• Cabin max width: 1.12 m (3 ft 8 in)

Areas

• Wings, gross: 13.03 m² (140.25 ft²)

Weights and Loadings

• Weight empty: 465 kg (1,025 lbs)
• Baggage capacity: 68 kg (150 lbs)
• Max T-O weight: 794 kg (1,750 lbs)
• Max wing loading: 57.44 kg/m² (11.76 lbs/ft²)
• Power loading (119 kW; 160 hp): 6.29 kg/kW (10.31 lbs/hp)

Performance (at max T-O weight, ISA; 119 kWh; 160 hp O-320 engine)

• Never-exceed speed (V_NE): 130 kts (241 km/h; 150 mph)
• Cruising speed: 113 kts (209 km/h; 130 mph)
• Stalling speed: 32 kts (58 km/h; 36 mph)
• Max rate of climb at S/L: 457 m/min (1,500 ft/min)
• Service ceiling: more than 5,335 m (17,500 ft)
• T-O run: approx 77 m (250 ft)
• T-O run to 50 m (50 ft): 99 m (325 ft)
• Landing run: 77 m (250 ft)

References

1. Photos: John Shupek
2. History: Wikipedia, Avid Aircraft Magnum
3. Jackson, Paul (MRAeS), Avid Aircraft Magnum, Jane’s All The World’s Aircraft 1995-96, London, Jane’s Information Group Limited, ISBN 0 7106 1262 1, Copyright 1995. pp. 486