Tag Archives: a32

New Y-stick controls for A32 Vixxen

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A32 Y-stick 01Aeroprakt has announced the optional availability of the popular Y-stick control system with twin throttles for the A32 Vixxen aircraft.

Various stick control systems have been tested and refined over the last 6-9 months resulting in what Yuriy Yakovlyev (Aeroprakt CEO and chief designer) says is probably ‘the most comfortable control configuration I have ever flown’.

As you can see from the picture, the Y-stick is centrally placed to make entry and rapid exit as easy as ever for the pilot and passenger – no need to contort yourself over a seat-front control stick. A32 Y-stick 02The throttles have been moved from the A22 positions beside the seats, familiar to so many Foxbat owners, to the bottom outboard end of the instrument panel. The throttles are now push-pull and have large, easy to grip handles. The Y-stick itself also has sleek new covers and handles, in keeping with the image of the A32.

A32 aircraft with Y-sticks are available for manufacture from September 2016. The cost is the same as for the (standard) twin control yokes.

A32 bottle pocketFinally, the small storage pockets on the sides of the instrument panel have been re-designed to enable safe carriage of a water bottle or can.

Australia’s 4th A32 arrives!

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A32 #011 being prepared after shipping

A32 #011 being prepared after shipping

Response to the Aeroprakt A32 ‘Vixxen’ has been nothing short of phenomenal, since the first demonstrator arrived in July 2015. No less than 12 have been ordered through Foxbat Australia, including one to an Australian subsidiary company operating in South Africa. The surprising thing is that sales of the A22LS ‘Foxbat’ have remained unaffected.

The most recent A32 arrival – serial number 011 – is in ‘Pumpkin Orange’, a colour which is becoming more popular as an alternative to the more common yellow, white, red and blue. The lucky owner lives out Broken Hill way and after familiarisation training – courtesy of Rob Hatswell at Gawler (north of Adelaide) – he will be flying the A32 largely on farm duties.

The aircraft is due for some sprauncy decals in the next couple of days and will hopefully be signed off sometime next week for test flying. Although weather around Melbourne has been a bit tempestuous lately!

After the very first A32 arrived here in Mazda Spirited Green Metallic (have a look at the pre-delivery flight test video here: A32 check) it seems that A32  owners like their colours – the next two A32 deliveries, due later in May, are yellow and white, with a bright green one (but not metallic) due early in June.

 

Aeroprakt A22LS Pre-delivery flight check

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A22LS Flight checkFollowing on from our recent A32 Vixxen flight check video, here’s another one – this time in a stick-controlled A22LS Foxbat.

As before, Mike Rudd accompanies me through a series of checks to ensure the aircraft performs as it should and is ready for its new owner.

Click the picture to view the video on YouTube. Watch at the highest resolution you can, to see the figures on the dials

Tyabb Airshow this Sunday

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Tyabb Airshow 2016Don’t forget! This Sunday, 13 March, is the bi-annual Tyabb Airshow – themed ‘Winged Warriors’.

The airfield looks very smart and ready for all its visitors.

New aeroplanes, old aeroplanes, old cars, new cars, aerobatics, drones, open hangars, food of every description – there’s certain to be something for you on this great family day out.

The airfield is located just a few metres down Stuart Road from the corner of Mornington-Tyabb Road in Tyabb, just north of Hastings in Victoria. Gates open at 0830 and the flying display runs from 1030 – 1630.

For more information on the airshow website, click here.

Foxbat Australia’s Hangar 11 (the first hangar south across the grass from the Clubhouse) will be open, with a couple of A22LS aircraft and our A32 demonstrator on display.

Come along, say hello and and enjoy the day.

A32 Vixxen – Australian Flying flight review

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OzFly CoverAustralian Flying Magazine has published a review of the Aeroprakt A32 Vixxen in their November/December 2015 issue.

Editor Steve Hitchen flew the aircraft a few weeks back, on an ‘interesting’ weather day at Tyabb. I won’t spoil his article for you but he definitely seemed to like the aircraft!

Click on the photo to download a copy of the article – file size is about 2.5Mb. If you want a higher resolution copy, you’ll have to buy a copy of the magazine yourself – it’s on the news stands now. Happy reading!

Sport Pilot Magazine reviews the A32

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A32 Sport Pilot Review

A32 Sport Pilot Review

The September issue of Sport Pilot Magazine (the official publication of Recreational Aviation Australia) has a flight review of the new Aeroprakt A32 Vixxen. You can read the article by clicking the Sport Pilot link above and turning to page 30.

Written by Andrew Murray – an A22LS Foxbat owner – this is a candid, comparative and objective review of the A32 aircraft.

Thanks to Andrew for taking the time to write the article, which, I think you will agree, has a certain style about it which makes it an easy read.

PS – As you’ll read, the new A32 is not just a quick update of the A22LS Foxbat, it’s a whole new aircraft. As a result, the name ‘Vixxen’ is currently being used in Australia to differentiate the two aircraft.

Borodyanka Fly-in 2015

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BorodyankaIt’s good to view some fly-in aerial activity from the other side of the world – in this case, near Borodyanka (sometimes spelled ‘Borodianka’) which is located to the north west of Kiev in the Ukraine. Here is a very nicely made little video which captures well the feeling of a local fly-in. [Click the picture to see the video]

Sitting where I am, wrapped up in my warm woolies and scarf in the middle of a Melbourne winter, the clear sunny summer skies look very inviting! There’s an interesting mix of aircraft at this fly-in, from an aerobatic Sukhoi through various Cessnas to some offerings (of course) from Aeroprakt. CEO Yuriy Yakovlyev arrives in his personal A36 and there are examples of the A22, A32 and the seaplane A24. There’s even a short display by Aeroprakt with smoke trails from the aircraft…I must ask them to send me a smoke kit for my demonstrator.

Roll on summer in Australia!