Gyroflug SC-01 Speed Canard
The Speed Canard is a composite, canard-configured tandem two-seater developed in Germany by Gyroflug, later renamed FFT, with its prototype first flown on 2 December 1980. Designed independently of Rutan's VariEze despite the visual similarity, it uses forward-mounted wings for stall resistance, wingtip fins carrying the rudders, and a retractable nosewheel, while its cockpit and canopy were adapted from the Grob Twin Astir sailplane. Certified in March 1986, it became the first certified composite canard aircraft. Only 62 were built before the company ceased trading at the end of 1992, making surviving examples a distinctive sight today.
Did you know?
Forward canard wings and rudders on the wingtips make the Speed Canard unmistakable, the first certified composite canard and a VariEze lookalike.
Specifications
| Length | 5.2 m (17 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 7.7 m (25 ft) |
| Height | 1.9 m (6 ft) |
| Persons on board | 2 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 0.7 t |
| Range | 700 NM (1,296 km) |
| Stall speed | 57 kt (106 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 14,000 ft (4,267 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 10,000 ft (3,048 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,300 ft/min (6.6 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 540 m (1,772 ft) |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Gyroflug SC-01 Speed Canard starts as a Uncommon catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Gyroflug, the SC-01 Speed Canard family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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