Snipe Diamond

Arthur Luff, a former Rolls Royce engineer and an RAF gliding instructor, designed a closed wing aircraft.^[1] Originally called the Snipe, it was later termed the Diamond, in acknowledgement of the wings' configuration.^[1][2] The aircraft featured two wings, of equal span and chord, with the front wing swept back by 20° and the rear wing swept forward by 20°. The wings were joined at the wingtip, where tip rudders were located. The aircraft had a fully enclosed fuselage, and was equipped with a single engine, powering a tractor propeller, and had a tricycle undercarriage. The aircraft featured three-axis control, with pitch control being by elevators on the rear wing; roll control by ailerons located on the outboard wings; directional control by rudders incorporated into the wingtip fins.

The prototype made its maiden flight in 1985.^[2] According to Flightline, in its issue dated July–August 1985, an order for 15 aircraft had been received from the Middle East.^[1] Since 1985, no further news about the craft has appeared.

Data from Ultralight and Microlight Aircraft^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 13 ft 4 in (4.06 m)
• Wingspan: 24 ft (7.3 m)
• Wing area: 132 sq ft (12.3 m²)
• Empty weight: 150 lb (68 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 370 lb (168 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × JPX PUL 425 2 cylinder, 2 stroke, 22 hp (16 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed, 3 ft 4 in (1.02 m) diameter

Performance

• g limits: +5/-3
• Wing loading: 2.80 lb/sq ft (13.7 kg/m²)

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• FlyNano Nano
• Ligeti Stratos