Remos GX: Difference between revisions

| national origin=[[Germany]]

| manufacturer=[[Remos AG]], [[Pasewalk]]

The '''Remos G3 Mirage''' and '''Remos GX''' are variants of a[[Germany|German]] high wing, two seat, single engine light aircraft, built inby [[GermanyRemos AG]] byof [[RemosPasewalk]]. AGThe aircraft is supplied as a kit for [[Homebuilt aircraft|amateur construction]] or complete and ready-to-fly.

The aircraft is marketed in the United States as a [[Light Sport Aircraft]], and as an [[ultralight]] in most of Europe. It is a high-wing design, mostly using engines from the [[Rotax 912]] family.<ref name=JAWA10/> It was developed from the similar '''Remos Gemini Ultra'''. The Mirage has the same layout, landing gear and structure but has a span reduced by 1.00&nbsp;m (3&nbsp;ft&nbsp;3&nbsp;in), is 170&nbsp;mm (&nbsp;6.7&nbsp;in) longer and is 34&nbsp;kg (75&nbsp;lb) heavier. The Mirage also adds an [[elevator (aircraft)|elevator]] [[trim tab]] and electrical [[flap (aircraft)|flap]] operation. The Gemini's standard two-stroke 48&nbsp;kW (64&nbsp;hp) [[Rotax 582]] engine was replaced in the Mirage by a 60&nbsp;kW (80&nbsp;hp) four-stroke [[Rotax 912UL]].<ref name=JAWA99>{{cite book |title= Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1999-2000|last= Jackson |first= Paul |coauthors= |edition= |year=1999|publisher=Jane's Information Group|location=Coulsdon, Surrey|isbn=0-71-061898-0 |page=162}}</ref>

The wings of the G3 Mirage have a constant chord centre section with straight tapered outer panels. The inboard sections carry electrically operated [[flap (aircraft)|flaps]]. There is a single lift strut on each side, attached to the lower fuselage. Behind the cabin the fuselage is slender and carries a low set, straight tapered tailplane with [[balanced rudder|horn balanced]] [[elevator (aircraft)|elevators]]. The fin and rudder are straight edged and sharply tapered, the latter horn balanced and ending at the top of the fuselage. There is a small underfin.<ref name=JAWA10/><ref name=Simpson>{{cite book |title= Airlife's World Aircraft|last=Simpson|first=Rod |coauthors= |edition= |year=2001|publisher= Airlife Publishing Ltd|location= Shrewsbury|isbn=1-84037-115-3|page=463}}</ref> The GX version introduced a long, integrated dorsal fin. The G3 Mirage has a [[tricycle gear|tricycle undercarriage]] with cantilever legs mounted to the fuselage and with [[fairing (aircraft)|faired]] wheels.<ref name=JAWA10/> The Remos is somewhat unusual among modern certificated/LSA aircraft in that it can be flown with the doors removed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.aopa.org/f2fsweeps/?tag=lsa-fun-to-fly-remos-sport-pilot-light-sport-aircraft-j-3-cub |title=It’sIt's a convertible |publisher=AOPA |date=2010-06-22 |accessdate=2014-10-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flyingmag.com/blogs/logbook/sport-pilot-getting-know-remos |title=Sport Pilot: Getting to Know the Remos |publisher=Flying Magazine |date=2010-06-16 |accessdate=2014-10-11}}</ref>

The prototype and most production Mirages have been powered by 80&nbsp;hp or 100&nbsp;hp variants of the [[Rotax 912]] flat four engine. The Mirage RS/L version had a [[Jabiru 2200]] and one aircraft (''D-MPCJ'') had a two-cylinder, 72&nbsp;hp Swiss Auto SAB 430 turbocharged car engine, which saved 30&nbsp;kg (66&nbsp;lb).<ref name=JAWA10/>

The G3 Mirage first flew on 20 September 1997 with the lower powered Rotax. The first production aircraft also used this engine but had some small horizontal control surface modifications plus the addition of a horn balance to the rudder.<ref name=JAWA10/>

The GX has been the current production model since 2006 and features folding wings and [[monocoque]] carbon fiber construction. Its wing has a different [[airfoil]] than the G3, improving roll rate and giving better penetration of turbulence. The GX is fitted with either a Junkers or [[Ballistic Recovery Systems|BRS]] ballistic parachute recovery system.<ref name=JAWA10/>

The GX2009 was introduced at the Sebring Expo. There were improvements to the instrument panel and interior and a new [[chromoly]] steel tube landing gear, which replaced the earlier composite undercarriage, is retrofitable to older models.<ref>{{cite journal|magazinejournal=Sport Aviation|date=March 2009|title=Remos Introduces GX 2009 at Sebring}}</ref>

The G3 Mirage/GX has been produced to meet both European ultralight and US [[Light-sport aircraft|LSA]] regulations. By early 2009, over 300 of all aircraft variants had been sold worldwide.<ref name=JAWA10/> About half were in Europe: in mid-2010 there were 156 G3 and GX aircraft on European civil registers west of Russia.<ref name=Ereg>{{cite book |title=European registers handbook 2010 |last= Partington |first=Dave|edition= |year=2010|publisher= Air Britain (Historians) Ltd|location= |isbn=978-0-85130-425-0}}</ref>

<ref name=G-INFO>{{cite web |url= http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=summary&aircrafttype=Remos |title=UK CAA register - Remos|author= |date= |work= |publisher= |accessdate=2011-02-11}}</ref> The rest went to countries including New Zealand, [[Thailand]] and the United States. Mirages were also sold to police forces in [[Argentina]] and to a military agency in [[Romania]].<ref name=JAWA10/>

An analysis of the operating economics by ''Aviation Consumer'' magazine of the G3 versus the [[Cessna 152]] in flight school use during 2013 showed that the G3 cost 50% more to operate than the thirty-year-old Cessna did.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avweb.com/news/features/lsa_cessna_airplanes_training_208712-1.html |title=Cessna 152 vs. LSA: Vintage Wins the Day |date=16 May 2013 |publisher=Avweb.com |date= |accessdate=2013-05-17|archive-url= https://archive.today/20230629134802/https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/cessna-152-vs-lsa-vintage-wins-the-day/|archive-date= 29 June 2023|url-status= live}}</ref>

''Data from'' Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2010/11<ref name=JAWA10>{{cite book |title= Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2010-11|last= Jackson |first= Paul |coauthors= |edition= |year=2010|publisher= IHS Jane's|location=Coulsdon, Surrey|isbn= 978-0-7106-2916-6 |page=247}}</ref>

:74.6 kW ({{convert|100 |hp)|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 912|Rotax 912 ULS]] engine, 1999

:64 kW ({{convert|85 |hp)|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Jabiru 2200]]A engine, lightened by 10 kg (22 lb), 2003

:Kit built, Almost Readyalmost ready-to Fly-fly, 2003

:Version lightened by {{convert|20|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} for the European [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] microlight category, with an empty weight of {{convert|286|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|472.5|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The standard engine available is the {{convert|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 912UL]].<ref name="WDLA11">Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 72. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X</ref><ref name="WDLA15">Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: ''World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16'', page 76. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}</ref>

[[Category:1990s German sport aircraft 1990–1999]]

[[Category:1999High-wing introductionsaircraft]]