Grinvalds Orion
Encyclopedia
The Grinvalds Orion is one of the earliest (1981) composite
kit- and homebuilt aircraft. A 2/4 seater with a single pusher engine
, it was built in France
and the USA in small numbers with several variations.
s. It is a low wing cantilever
monoplane
with a T-tail
, of conventional layout except for its pusher configuration
; this places with the cabin well ahead of the leading edge and provides an excellent downward view. The Orion is built from Kevlar
reinforced glassfibre shells, with foam filling in the wings. The latter, which have 4.5° of dihedral, are straight edged and only slightly tapered, with blunt tips. They carry electrically driven split flaps. Its cabin seats four in two side-by-side rows and is entered by centrally hinged gull wing doors. The engine, a Lycoming O-360 variant of either 180 hp or 200 hp (134/149 kW) is mounted over the wing trailing edge line and drives a three-bladed propeller, mounted at the extreme tail, via a long shaft. Behind the wing the fuselage tapers on its underside; it carries a broad fin with a straight, swept leading edge and rudder, on top of which is the straight tapered tailplane and horn balanced
elevators
. Below the fuselage is a long, shallow ventral strake
. The tricycle undercarriage is electrically retractable. The main legs fold inward; when deployed, they splay out strongly.
The first prototype of the plan-built G-801 Orion flew for the first time on 2 June 1981, configured as a two seater and powered by a 65 hp (48.5 kW) engine. The first kit-production aircraft, designated G-802 Orion, differed from the G-801 chiefly in having a wider cabin and a slightly longer fuselage (increased by 140 mm or 5.5 in). This first flew in November 1983, powered by a 180 hp Lycoming. By early 1985 140 plans for G-801s and 80 G-802 kits had been sold, but the development programme was halted by the death of its designer on 3 April 1985 whilst demonstrating the aircraft.
Plans and kits were distributed by Aérodis in France and by Aerodis America Inc. in the USA. Individual builders, often using the original moulds at Brienne-le-Chateau
, continued to innovate. Around 1990 Jaques Darcissac built an Orion with a fuselage strengthened with wire mesh and with a more robust undercarriage, which he named the Darcissac-Grinvalds DG-87 Goéland (Seagull in English) and this name has been used by three other builders. Other builders have also given their aircraft different names, such as Gerfaut, Gypaète and Sylphide. In the USA the Orion was known as the AA200.
Orion marketing was taken over by Avyron, who restarted its development. At the 2005 Paris Air Show they announced the unfinished JG 203, which was to have carbon fibre added to the glassfibre and Kevlar structure. The long drive shaft and its propeller were also to be made from carbon fibre, with integral wing tanks and with the main undercarriage attached to the rear wing spar. Control was fly by wire. Two versions were proposed: the JG 203G-190, with a 142 kW (190 hp) Mazda
rotary diesel engine, and the JG 203G-230 with a 172 kW (230 hp) Innodyn turboprop. Kits were to be produced in Switzerland
. However, two years on at the 2007 Paris show Avyron stated that they were concentrating on two versions of the original 802 Orion and that the JG 803G-230 was for longer term development. The former were the JG 802L, with a 149 kW (200 hp) Lycoming similar to that used by some of the original 802 Orions, and the JG 802M with a 172 kW (230 hp) Mazda rotary diesel. The prototype JG 203G-230 appeared at this show, though without its engine. No kits are known to have been made by Avyron before the end of 2008.
, Le Bourget Airport
, Paris
where it can be viewed with advance permission, though Avyron borrowed it to hang over their stand at the 2005 Paris Air Show.
Composite material
Composite materials, often shortened to composites or called composition materials, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or...
kit- and homebuilt aircraft. A 2/4 seater with a single pusher engine
Pusher configuration
In a craft with a pusher configuration the propeller are mounted behind their respective engine. According to Bill Gunston, a "pusher propeller" is one mounted behind engine so that drive shaft is in compression...
, it was built in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the USA in small numbers with several variations.
Design and development
Designed in 1975 and first flown in 1981, the Orion was one of the earliest kitbuilt aircraft to be constructed from composite materialComposite material
Composite materials, often shortened to composites or called composition materials, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or...
s. It is a low wing cantilever
Cantilever
A cantilever is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is resisted by moment and shear stress. Cantilever construction allows for overhanging structures without external bracing. Cantilevers can also be constructed with trusses or slabs.This is in...
monoplane
Monoplane
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with one main set of wing surfaces, in contrast to a biplane or triplane. Since the late 1930s it has been the most common form for a fixed wing aircraft.-Types of monoplane:...
with a T-tail
T-tail
thumb|right|Grob motor gliderA T-tail is an aircraft tail stabilizer configuration in which the horizontal surfaces are mounted to the top of the vertical stabilizer. Traditionally, the horizontal control surfaces are mounted to the fuselage at the base of the vertical stabilizer...
, of conventional layout except for its pusher configuration
Pusher configuration
In a craft with a pusher configuration the propeller are mounted behind their respective engine. According to Bill Gunston, a "pusher propeller" is one mounted behind engine so that drive shaft is in compression...
; this places with the cabin well ahead of the leading edge and provides an excellent downward view. The Orion is built from Kevlar
Kevlar
Kevlar is the registered trademark for a para-aramid synthetic fiber, related to other aramids such as Nomex and Technora. Developed at DuPont in 1965, this high strength material was first commercially used in the early 1970s as a replacement for steel in racing tires...
reinforced glassfibre shells, with foam filling in the wings. The latter, which have 4.5° of dihedral, are straight edged and only slightly tapered, with blunt tips. They carry electrically driven split flaps. Its cabin seats four in two side-by-side rows and is entered by centrally hinged gull wing doors. The engine, a Lycoming O-360 variant of either 180 hp or 200 hp (134/149 kW) is mounted over the wing trailing edge line and drives a three-bladed propeller, mounted at the extreme tail, via a long shaft. Behind the wing the fuselage tapers on its underside; it carries a broad fin with a straight, swept leading edge and rudder, on top of which is the straight tapered tailplane and horn balanced
Balanced rudder
The balanced rudder was an innovation in warship construction used as early as 1862 in the USS Monitor, one of the Union's first ironclads during the American Civil War...
elevators
Elevator (aircraft)
Elevators are flight control surfaces, usually at the rear of an aircraft, which control the aircraft's orientation by changing the pitch of the aircraft, and so also the angle of attack of the wing. In simplified terms, they make the aircraft nose-up or nose-down...
. Below the fuselage is a long, shallow ventral strake
Strake (aviation)
In aviation, a strake is an aerodynamic surface generally mounted on the fuselage of an aircraft to improve the airflow and hence the flight characteristics.In general a strake is longer than it is wide, in contrast to a winglet or a moustache....
. The tricycle undercarriage is electrically retractable. The main legs fold inward; when deployed, they splay out strongly.
The first prototype of the plan-built G-801 Orion flew for the first time on 2 June 1981, configured as a two seater and powered by a 65 hp (48.5 kW) engine. The first kit-production aircraft, designated G-802 Orion, differed from the G-801 chiefly in having a wider cabin and a slightly longer fuselage (increased by 140 mm or 5.5 in). This first flew in November 1983, powered by a 180 hp Lycoming. By early 1985 140 plans for G-801s and 80 G-802 kits had been sold, but the development programme was halted by the death of its designer on 3 April 1985 whilst demonstrating the aircraft.
Plans and kits were distributed by Aérodis in France and by Aerodis America Inc. in the USA. Individual builders, often using the original moulds at Brienne-le-Chateau
Brienne-le-Château
Brienne-le-Château is a commune in the Aube department in north-central France. It is located from the right bank of the Aube River and 26 m. northeast of Troyes....
, continued to innovate. Around 1990 Jaques Darcissac built an Orion with a fuselage strengthened with wire mesh and with a more robust undercarriage, which he named the Darcissac-Grinvalds DG-87 Goéland (Seagull in English) and this name has been used by three other builders. Other builders have also given their aircraft different names, such as Gerfaut, Gypaète and Sylphide. In the USA the Orion was known as the AA200.
Orion marketing was taken over by Avyron, who restarted its development. At the 2005 Paris Air Show they announced the unfinished JG 203, which was to have carbon fibre added to the glassfibre and Kevlar structure. The long drive shaft and its propeller were also to be made from carbon fibre, with integral wing tanks and with the main undercarriage attached to the rear wing spar. Control was fly by wire. Two versions were proposed: the JG 203G-190, with a 142 kW (190 hp) Mazda
Mazda
is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...
rotary diesel engine, and the JG 203G-230 with a 172 kW (230 hp) Innodyn turboprop. Kits were to be produced in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. However, two years on at the 2007 Paris show Avyron stated that they were concentrating on two versions of the original 802 Orion and that the JG 803G-230 was for longer term development. The former were the JG 802L, with a 149 kW (200 hp) Lycoming similar to that used by some of the original 802 Orions, and the JG 802M with a 172 kW (230 hp) Mazda rotary diesel. The prototype JG 203G-230 appeared at this show, though without its engine. No kits are known to have been made by Avyron before the end of 2008.
Operational history
By the end of 2008 about 17 Orion variants had been flown, with another 9 under construction. Most have been registered in France, though 3 are on the US register.Aircraft on display
The first prototype 801 Orion, F-PYKF, is normally in the Musée de l'Air et de l'EspaceMusée de l'Air et de l'Espace
The French Air and Space Museum is a French museum, located in the south-eastern edge of Le Bourget Airport, north of Paris, and in the commune of Le Bourget. It was created in 1919 from a proposition of Albert Caquot .-Description:Occupying over of land and hangars, it is one of the oldest...
, Le Bourget Airport
Le Bourget Airport
Paris – Le Bourget Airport is an airport located in Le Bourget, Bonneuil-en-France, and Dugny, north-northeast of Paris, France. It is now used only for general aviation as well as air shows...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
where it can be viewed with advance permission, though Avyron borrowed it to hang over their stand at the 2005 Paris Air Show.