Aerodis AA200 Orion

The Aerodis AA200 Orion is a four-seat prototype light aircraft designed in the United States and which first flew on April 7, 1991.^[1] Aerodis commissioned the design with the intention of developing a family of related aircraft sharing a common basic airframe,^[1] including the AA300 Rigel and AA330 Theta. Aerodis was also the American distributor for the Grinvalds Orion, a French light aircraft intended for homebuilding. Although the Aerodis Orion and Grinvalds Orion shared a same basic configuration and composite construction, the two aircraft were not further related, and the AA200 was an all-new design.^[2] The designs are sometimes known as the CRSS AA200 Orion, CRSS AA300 Rigel, and CRSS AA330 Theta after the rights to the designs were sold to Indonesian manufacturer CRSS.^[3]

The Orion is a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a T-tail, prominent ventral fin, and retractable, tricycle undercarriage.^[2] It is powered by a mid-mounted piston engine driving a pusher propeller though a long driveshaft.^[2] Construction throughout is of composite materials.^[2] The enclosed cabin seats four people in 2+2 configuration.

Aerodis planned to use this design as the basis for a jet trainer aircraft, the AA300 Rigel, and a light tactical aircraft, the AA330 Theta.^[2] In both these cases, the piston engine was to be replaced by a small turbofan, either the Garrett F109 or Williams FJ44,^[2] and the cockpit was to be enclosed by a bubble canopy.^[2] The Rigel was to seat pilot and instructor in tandem, while the Theta was to be a single-seat aircraft fitted with an ejector seat.^[2] Aerodis presented both designs at the 1989 Paris Air Show.^[4]

Two prototypes of the Rigel were under construction in 1991 for entry into the US Department of Defense Joint Primary Aircraft Training System competition,^[2][5] one to test each of the prospective powerplants.^[5] Aerodis was unable to attract sufficient investment to complete the prototypes or continue development.^[4]

Manufacturing of Aerodis designs was to have been carried out by Cipta Restu Sarana Svaha (CRSS) in Indonesia.^[1] In 1991, Aerodis sold the whole program to CRSS.^[6]

Data from Lambert 1991, p.337

General characteristics

• Crew: 1 pilot
• Capacity: 3 passengers
• Length: 25 ft 5 in (7.75 m)
• Wingspan: 30 ft 0 in (9.14 m)
• Height: 8 ft 7 in (2.62 m)
• Wing area: 137 sq ft (12.7 m²)
• Empty weight: 1,400 lb (635 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 2,500 lb (1,134 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-360 4-cylinder, horizontally-opposed, air-cooled piston engine, 180 hp (130 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 180 kn (210 mph, 330 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 165 kn (190 mph, 306 km/h)
• Range: 780 nmi (900 mi, 1,440 km)
• Service ceiling: 14,500 ft (4,400 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,020 ft/min (5.2 m/s) (max. at sea level)
• Wing loading: 18.25 lb/sq ft (89.1 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 13.89

• "First-flight Delay for AA300 Rigel trainer". Flight International. March 27, 1991.
• Gunston, Bill (1993). World Encyclopedia of Aircraft Manufacturers. Anapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.
• Lambert, Mark (1991). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1991–92. Coulsdon: Jane's Data Division.
• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1993). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
• Subodo, Sudiro (31 July 2020). "Pesawat Latih Jet Buatan Indonesia, Antara Ambisi dan Oportunis" [Jet Training Aircraft Made in Indonesia: Between Ambition and Opportunism]. AviaHistoria: Aviation History of Indonesia. Retrieved 4 June 2024.