Cavalier 102.5 Specifictions
Span 27' 4"
Length 22' 0"
Wing Area 118 sq.ft
Weight empty 1,050 lb
Weight loaded 1,650 lb
Wing loading 12.7 lb/sq.ft
Max. speed 150 mph
Cruise speed 120-150 mph (100hp to 150hp)
Stall speed 50 mph
Climb 1,000 fpm
Fuel 36 gallons
Span 27' 4"
Length 22' 0"
Wing Area 118 sq.ft
Weight empty 1,050 lb
Weight loaded 1,650 lb
Wing loading 12.7 lb/sq.ft
Max. speed 150 mph
Cruise speed 120-150 mph (100hp to 150hp)
Stall speed 50 mph
Climb 1,000 fpm
Fuel 36 gallons
SA105 Super Cavalier (1968)
This airplane follows the same basic construction pattern as the SA102.5 but is beefed up to:
1) Take larger engines and variable pitch props from 125 to 200 hp, including auto conversions.
2) Withstand the higher gross weights necessary.
3) Withstand the higher stresses of the higher cruising speeds.
4) Enlarged cockpit:
a) To house two people comfortably for long cross country flying.
b) More radios and instruments for x country and IFR flying.
c) Provide room for the retracted nose wheel and pilots/pass, and legs.
d) Added baggage space necessary for x country travel.
5) Fuselage is 4" wider and 4" taller than the 102.5 and 7" longer.
6) Wing structure is beefed and modified to accept retractable gear and mechanism
7) Tricycle landing gear is all spring steel and manually retracted similar to the early Mooneys. Hydraulic retraction can be adapted quite easily.
8) Streamlined fibreglass tip tanks are added to remove all fuel from the cockpit and increase the aspect ratio and wing area (these tanks produce lift and reduce drag).
This airplane follows the same basic construction pattern as the SA102.5 but is beefed up to:
1) Take larger engines and variable pitch props from 125 to 200 hp, including auto conversions.
2) Withstand the higher gross weights necessary.
3) Withstand the higher stresses of the higher cruising speeds.
4) Enlarged cockpit:
a) To house two people comfortably for long cross country flying.
b) More radios and instruments for x country and IFR flying.
c) Provide room for the retracted nose wheel and pilots/pass, and legs.
d) Added baggage space necessary for x country travel.
5) Fuselage is 4" wider and 4" taller than the 102.5 and 7" longer.
6) Wing structure is beefed and modified to accept retractable gear and mechanism
7) Tricycle landing gear is all spring steel and manually retracted similar to the early Mooneys. Hydraulic retraction can be adapted quite easily.
8) Streamlined fibreglass tip tanks are added to remove all fuel from the cockpit and increase the aspect ratio and wing area (these tanks produce lift and reduce drag).
Fast, Simple, Efficient
History
Designed by Stan McLeod in Western Canada, the Cavalier is an improved (and enlarged) derivative of the French GY-20 Minicab. Constructed from wood, the Cavalier neatly combines new world simplicity with the best of the classic French low wing design. The SA102 “rod nose gear” was revolutionary at the time, and is now the standard on many home-built tricycle gear designs.
The prototype SA102 made is first flight in 1964. The design evolved from the original SA102 to the more refined SA102.5 which first flew in 1971. Over the years the series was refined with many improvements and expanded to the larger SA105 series.
The SA102.5
The Cavalier SA102.5 plans come with both tricycle and tail-wheel options, and is suitable for engines from 100hp to 150hp. The SA102.5 is the most popular design with the most completions and flying examples due to its versatility and ability to fly on a verity widely available engines. This is the model we recommend.
Performance
Best performance will be achieved when built light with 100hp up to 150hp.
Suitable engines include the O-200, Rotax 914, 915, 916, O-290, O-320)
Experimental engines such as the Corvair (110hp/120hp) Yamaha YG4, Viking, Jabiru, UL Power, MWFLy and Aeromomentum can also be fitted.
Flying examples report 140-150mph on 150hp, and up to 130mph on 110hp (when kept light and clean). Despite some claims, empirical evidence suggests that the tail-wheel variant is faster.
There can be significant differences in speed due to builder choices. An aerodynamically clean modern build with all the upgrades (reflex flaps, ) that was kept light, sporting a stroked O-200 or Corvair will be faster than an older tricycle build with a tired old stock O-200.
The SA105
The SA105 Series boasts a fuselage 4” wider, 4” taller, and 7” longer, as well as structural and aerodynamic enhancements allowing it to support larger engines up to 200hp and speeds up to 200mph. The SA105 comes in 3 variants: The SA103 (Tail-wheel), SA104 (Tricycle Gear), SA105 (Retractable Gear). Anyone looking for a wood aircraft with similar performance to the fastest of the RV aircraft should consider the SA105.
Construction
Construction is straightforward, and conventional. The plans include full size drawings for all the ribs in the wings and the empennage, which are cut from plywood. Metal fittings are kept to a minimum, the landing gear is cut from solid bar stock or can be purchased from one of several landing gear manufactures who serve the homebuilt market. The tip tanks are slightly more complicated then a set of fiberglass wheel pants.
Safety
The Cavalier is a strong safe design with a decades long track record. Wood is an easy forgiving medium to work with and does not fatigue like aluminum, or rust out like steel. Modern epoxy glues like T-88 are easy to use and today’s wood sealers will likely outlast any builder. There are wood airplanes that are nearly 100 years old that are still airworthy.
Comfort
Most pilots have never flown in a wood airplane. If they did, there would be a lot more wood airplanes under construction! Wood feels much more solid in flight. Wood has natural vibration dampening properties meaning they don’t rattle and vibrate like metal airplanes. Reduced vibration means more comfort, reduced fatigue, and reduced nervousness experienced by passengers.
History
Designed by Stan McLeod in Western Canada, the Cavalier is an improved (and enlarged) derivative of the French GY-20 Minicab. Constructed from wood, the Cavalier neatly combines new world simplicity with the best of the classic French low wing design. The SA102 “rod nose gear” was revolutionary at the time, and is now the standard on many home-built tricycle gear designs.
The prototype SA102 made is first flight in 1964. The design evolved from the original SA102 to the more refined SA102.5 which first flew in 1971. Over the years the series was refined with many improvements and expanded to the larger SA105 series.
The SA102.5
The Cavalier SA102.5 plans come with both tricycle and tail-wheel options, and is suitable for engines from 100hp to 150hp. The SA102.5 is the most popular design with the most completions and flying examples due to its versatility and ability to fly on a verity widely available engines. This is the model we recommend.
Performance
Best performance will be achieved when built light with 100hp up to 150hp.
Suitable engines include the O-200, Rotax 914, 915, 916, O-290, O-320)
Experimental engines such as the Corvair (110hp/120hp) Yamaha YG4, Viking, Jabiru, UL Power, MWFLy and Aeromomentum can also be fitted.
Flying examples report 140-150mph on 150hp, and up to 130mph on 110hp (when kept light and clean). Despite some claims, empirical evidence suggests that the tail-wheel variant is faster.
There can be significant differences in speed due to builder choices. An aerodynamically clean modern build with all the upgrades (reflex flaps, ) that was kept light, sporting a stroked O-200 or Corvair will be faster than an older tricycle build with a tired old stock O-200.
The SA105
The SA105 Series boasts a fuselage 4” wider, 4” taller, and 7” longer, as well as structural and aerodynamic enhancements allowing it to support larger engines up to 200hp and speeds up to 200mph. The SA105 comes in 3 variants: The SA103 (Tail-wheel), SA104 (Tricycle Gear), SA105 (Retractable Gear). Anyone looking for a wood aircraft with similar performance to the fastest of the RV aircraft should consider the SA105.
Construction
Construction is straightforward, and conventional. The plans include full size drawings for all the ribs in the wings and the empennage, which are cut from plywood. Metal fittings are kept to a minimum, the landing gear is cut from solid bar stock or can be purchased from one of several landing gear manufactures who serve the homebuilt market. The tip tanks are slightly more complicated then a set of fiberglass wheel pants.
Safety
The Cavalier is a strong safe design with a decades long track record. Wood is an easy forgiving medium to work with and does not fatigue like aluminum, or rust out like steel. Modern epoxy glues like T-88 are easy to use and today’s wood sealers will likely outlast any builder. There are wood airplanes that are nearly 100 years old that are still airworthy.
Comfort
Most pilots have never flown in a wood airplane. If they did, there would be a lot more wood airplanes under construction! Wood feels much more solid in flight. Wood has natural vibration dampening properties meaning they don’t rattle and vibrate like metal airplanes. Reduced vibration means more comfort, reduced fatigue, and reduced nervousness experienced by passengers.
SA103 SA104 SA105 Specs
Span 27'4"
Length 23' 9 1/2"
Interior Cockpit Width 41"
Empty Weight SA103: 1050 lbs SA104: 1100 lbs SA105 1175 lbs
Gross Wieght 1850 lbs 1850 lbs 1850 lbs
Baggage 130 lbs 80 lbs 0 lbs
Performance 125HP 150hp 180hp
SA103 / 104 / 105 SA103 / 104 / 105 SA103 / 104 / 105
Take Off
Climb FPM
Cruise 75% MPH 140 / 150 / 170 150 / 160 / 200 160 / 165 / 200
Max Diving Speed 240 mph
Stall Speed No Flap
Stall Speed 45-60 Degress Flap 60-63 IAS
Take off Speed 15 Degrees Flap 55-58 IAS
Span 27'4"
Length 23' 9 1/2"
Interior Cockpit Width 41"
Empty Weight SA103: 1050 lbs SA104: 1100 lbs SA105 1175 lbs
Gross Wieght 1850 lbs 1850 lbs 1850 lbs
Baggage 130 lbs 80 lbs 0 lbs
Performance 125HP 150hp 180hp
SA103 / 104 / 105 SA103 / 104 / 105 SA103 / 104 / 105
Take Off
Climb FPM
Cruise 75% MPH 140 / 150 / 170 150 / 160 / 200 160 / 165 / 200
Max Diving Speed 240 mph
Stall Speed No Flap
Stall Speed 45-60 Degress Flap 60-63 IAS
Take off Speed 15 Degrees Flap 55-58 IAS
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