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 an exceptionally lightweight (306 lbs empty) homebuilt, mid-wing aircraft primarily powered by a converted VW engine.
Its construction features a welded steel tube fuselage and tail, spruce spars and ribs for its wings, and steel tubing for flying struts.
The aircraft boasts a top speed of 95 mph, a cruise speed of 85 mph, a stall speed of 34 mph, and a range of 200 miles.

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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.