This aircraft is a plan construction not a kit construction.
The construction of an entire IBIS plane requires circa 80 dm3 of the same species of wood (spruce, Oregon pine, picea). The plywood is in birch and Gaboon mahogany. The materials used are set out in detail in the construction handbook The purpose-built cockpit canopy is supplied by the designer.
The structure comprises 7 frames, 4 longerons and diagonal struts. It is covered with plywood and requires no padding. The fuselage is assembled on the model plane principle, upside down on a table, and after construction of the different frames. The 150 pages handbook, included in the instruction document pack, will give you all the necessary explanations as regards: construction, adjustments and test flight techniques.
The canard wing is rectangular, with no twisting or dihedral angle. It has round tips which are bevelled on the underside. The trailing edge is fitted with a built-in slotted flap which runs along the whole length of the wing. The canard structure consists of a "box-form spar" the same thickness as the profile and which joins 8 identical plywood former-ribs. The whole structure is filled with "Styrodur" foam, and covered with thin plywood which is glued by suction using the same technique as that employed in the construction of certain model planes.
The wing spar is a "box-form" construction and consists of two caps braced together by means of plywood strips on each side. It is in one single piece, at an angle to the air frame. Width and height are constant along whole thickness of the profile. There is no dihedral angle or twisting. All wing ribs are identical, and are in plywood. They are made in a single operation using a metal template and a joiner's spindle moulding machine. This can be done very quickly. The wing is filled with blocks of "styrodur" foam hollowed out to allow passage of flight control linkages and is covered with thin plywood glued by suction. This method represents a saving of circa 40% on the production time required for standard wood and fabric wing construction. The wing can be dismantled only for major overhaul.
Each stabilizer consists of two half-stabilizers made of main plywood longerons and 5 plywood ribs. Thc stabilizers are completely filled with "styrodur", and covered with glued plywood. The rudders are incorporated in the profile of the stabilizers.
The front undercarriage is mounted on a steering wheel, and is connected to the rudder dual controls; it is not retractable. It is made of steel tubes and fitted with a wheel mounted on a rocker, rubber shock absorbers. The main undercarriage is made of glued laminated plywood, a solution which has been retained for three reasons: weight, easy assembling and low cost. It is highly efficient even on grass runways.
The flight control system is the "rigid linkage" type with ball, bell-crank levers and rod connecting joints. The steering and rudder controls are the only system making use of cables. Flight control of the plane is performed through: flaperons (flaps/ailerons) running the whole length of the main wing span, elevator on the canard wing, rudders on stabilizers. The IBIS is flown in a totally classic way.
Fuel tanks are in epoxy resin and are incorporated in the leading edge of the wing. They have a capacity of 60 litres; they are equipped with a feed-tank and have a single refuelling point on the wing or on the luggage hold. The tanks are fitted with an electric fuel gauge and with a single pipe leading from the lower part of the feed-tank. There is no manual system for transferring fuel.
The IBIS plane has been designed for use with VW (Volkswagen) engines in the 60 to 80 HP range, i.e. engines of at least 1830 CC or any more powerful VW engine. Any four stroke four cylinder engine, without reducing gear, weighing 75 kg or less, in good working order (and roughly equivalent to the VW or up to 20 kg lighter) presently in use or coming on line, can be mounted on the IBIS.SPECIFICATIONS
It is also possible to use the French engine "JPX 4T 75A" 80 HP, the German "LIMBACH 2000 EC" 68 HP or Australian "JABIRU 2200" 80 HP. All of these engines are without reducing gearbox.
A two-stroke engine is not recommended as its specific consumption is much greater than that of the four-stroke engines. Some rotary engines can also be considered as alternative solutions. The 65 HP Continental engine, on the contrary, is too heavy and too bulky.
"All wood" construction with additional styrofoam Overall length 4.90 m / 16 ft Overall wing span 6.30 m / 20.66 ft Vertical stabilizer height 1.76 m / 5.6 ft Fuselage width 0.64 m / 26 in Cabin height 1.04 m / 3.15 ft Cabin width at pilot elbow 0.64 m / 26 in. Swep wing rectangular without dihedral Canard wing rectangular and rectilinear Main wing equipped with "flaperons" Dual controls (push-pull tubes) Nose wheel steering coupled to the rudder pedals
(fixed landing gear)Cabin heated, brakes on rear-weels Main landing gear of laminated wood 12 V alternator powered electrical system VHF, VOR (or GPS NAV) - transponder Fuel tanks in wing leading edge 60 liters / 16.2 US.G Electrical contents indication Internal luggage stowage behind passenger head One-piece canopy, opens laterally (special "IBIS" canopy)
Max. take-off weight 470 kg (VZ 3.5 m/s) - 1034 lbs Empty weight with starter equipment 260 kg - 572 lbs Payload (full fuel) 170 kg - 374 lbs Front pilot weight limits 65/95 kg - 143/209 lbs G-loading +4.5 and -3.0 Max. speed (VMO and VNE) 260 km/h (140kts) - 161 mph Approach speed 120 km/h (65 kts) - 74 mph Stall speed 95 km/h (52 kts) - 59 mph Normal cruise 65% 200 km/h (108 kts) - 124 mph Long range cruise 180 km/h (97 kts) - 112 mph Max. range 900 km (485 Nms) + VFR reserves - 559 SM Takeoff distance 1050 ft Landing distance 1500 ft Climb rate (VW 1835 CC) 700 fpm at M.T.O. weight. Service ceiling depends on the engine power.
The IBIS RJ03 is classified in a "light aircraft category".
It cannot be modified as "ultra-light".