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in the early 80's an very futuristic looking craft was introduced to the
ultralight aviation community. The Sadler Vampire single place
ultralight aircraft was an all metal, twin tail, enclosed cockpit pusher
with folding wings.While the aircraft had limited sales success in
the U.S. it developed a following in other parts of the world and Bill
Sadler went on to develop a number of variations of the Vampire.
These included the SV-1 powered by the Rotax 44 40 HP, the Vampire
A22 a Chevrolet V6 powered 330 HP craft and the Sadler Piranha for the
Turkish Aerospace Industry, which was a Chevy V8 powered plane putting
out over 450 HP.
At Airventure 2007 Bill Sadler the original designer of the single
place Vampire was on hand to introduce his latest creation the Vampire
II.
The Vampire II was developed from the Sadler Piranha, but with a
longer wing, and wider cord. It has been designed and is being built to
fit into the new Lightsport aircraft rules.
The plane features all aluminum airframe and wings. Side by side
seating in a 50 inch wide cabin. The Vampire II has folding wings for
trailerability and storage. It uses a fixed tri-cycle gear landing
system with trailing link suspension, and a steerable nose wheel.
Power is currently being supplied by the Rotax 912 S, 100 HP aircraft
engine, but other engines are also being considered. With the Rotax 912
S top speed is 120 Knots, cruise speed 100 Knots, with a climb rate pf
1,000 feet per minute.
Controls are standard stick and rudder with dual rudder pedals, dual
throttles and a center mounted stick, and manually operated flaps that
can be extended to 40 degrees.
Bill indicates that the plane is still in the R&D stage, and expects
to be through the LSA program and into production sometime in 2008.
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