TROYER SPORTPLANE VX

Plane & Pilot

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: Omar Filipović

Key Takeaways:

The Troyer Sportplane is a remarkably lightweight homebuilt aircraft, with an empty weight of only 306 pounds, especially notable for a VW-powered mid-wing model.
Its construction combines welded steel tube for the fuselage, tail, and wing struts with spruce spars and ribs for the wings.
Powered by either a Heath B4 or a converted VW engine, it offers a cruise speed of 85 mph, a range of 200 miles, and a short takeoff run of 195 feet.

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STANDARD DATA: Gross wt. 456. Empty wt. 306. Fuel capacity 5. Wingspan 23’9″. Length 15’9″.
PERFORMANCE: Top mph 95. Cruise mph 85. Stall mph 34. Climb rate 600. Takeoff run 195. Landing roll 150. Range 200.

Few homebuilts weigh less than this VW-powered mid-wing model. The Troyer Sportplane weighs only 306 pounds empty. Oddly enough, it has a welded steeltube fuselage and tail assembly. Its wings use spruce spars and ribs built from 1/4-inch square spruce, ply gusseted. Steel tubing also forms the flying struts for the wing, but a little balsa wood is used for fairing. Power is supplied by either the Heath B4 or a converted VW engine.