Raisner Graffiti

Graffiti
Role	Ultralight trike
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Raisner Aircraft Depot
Designer	Bill Raisner
Introduction	circa 1997
Status	Production completed

The Raisner Graffiti is an American ultralight trike that was designed by Bill Raisner and produced by Raisner Aircraft Depot, a division of Leading Edge Air Foils of Peyton, Colorado and introduced about 1997. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.^[1]

By 2014 the aircraft was no longer offered for sale by Leading Edge Air Foils.^[2]

Design and development

The Graffiti was designed with the goals of maximizing safety, performance and simplicity of construction. It was intended to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, as a two-seat trainer. It features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit with a cockpit fairing, tricycle landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in pusher configuration.^[1]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its double surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 33.80 ft (10.3 m) span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost, uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar and has a wing area of 160.0 sq ft (14.86 m²). The acceptable power range is 41 to 64 hp (31 to 48 kW) and the standard powerplant used is a de-rated twin cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 53 hp (40 kW) Rotax 582 engine, optimized for quiet operation.^[1]

The aircraft has an empty weight of 341 lb (155 kg) and a gross weight of 872 lb (396 kg), giving a useful load of 531 lb (241 kg).^[1]

The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off with a 53 hp (40 kW) engine is 100 ft (30 m) and the landing roll is 150 ft (46 m).^[1]

Specifications (Graffiti)

Data from AeroCrafter^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: one passenger
• Wingspan: 33.80 ft (10.30 m)
• Wing area: 160.0 sq ft (14.86 m²)
• Empty weight: 341 lb (155 kg)
• Gross weight: 872 lb (396 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 582 de-rated twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 53 hp (40 kW)
• Propellers: 4-bladed composite

Performance

• Maximum speed: 77 mph (124 km/h; 67 kn)
• Cruise speed: 56 mph (49 kn; 90 km/h)
• Stall speed: 31 mph (27 kn; 50 km/h)
• Range: 200 mi (174 nmi; 322 km)
• Service ceiling: 19,700 ft (6,005 m)
• Wing loading: 5.5 lb/sq ft (27 kg/m²)

References

1. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 235. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
2. Leading Edge Air Foils (3 February 2014). "On line Catalog". Retrieved 3 February 2014.