One of ANN's Favorite Birds Is Coming Back... Better Than
Ever!
It's kinda like hearing good news from a favorite old
girlfriend. You know the one... the sweetie that "rocked your
world" more than anyone else -- and she wants you back... REAL bad.
Sigh...
On a similarly intense level, one of my favorite airplanes seems
to be calling me... again. The unique and much-celebrated Sorrell
Hiperbipe is in the process of a comeback. Mark Sorrell tells ANN
than an SNS-540 is in the works, a higher-powered and upgraded
version of the two seat, enclosed cabin Hiperbipe SNS-7 aerobat
that seemed to do a little of everything REALLY well. Mark says
it's "for all purposes, (it is) a 7 but improved and redesigned to
accommodate a Lycoming IO-540 with composite 3 blade prop."
Off the market for 20 (too long) years, the Hiperbipe won the
"Outstanding New Design" award at Oshkosh '73 (note old spec sheet,
below). A hotrod aerobat capable of solid advanced class maneuvers
(and possibly more in the guise of the SNS-540), it will cruise
150-160 miles for as long as 500 miles down the road... and do so
using as little as 400 feet for take-off (no fooling) and less than
600 feet for landing. It's a great and comfy cross-country bird and
has beau coup baggage room. I've been in and out of 1000 feet of
grass with nary a worry and while the slab side fuselage does get
blown around a bit, a pilot who gets to know the bird can kill off
a really horrendous crosswind (I've done well over 20 knots without
problem... but that's with fore-knowledge of the bird's
personality--which doesn't take long to figure, BTW). It stalls at
less than 50 mph (flaps down), climbs 1500 fpm, and rolls at least
180 degrees per second. It'll do amazing knife edge, rolls like a
corkscrew, and loops like a roller coaster... as sweet and as
pleasing as any bird I can recall... without all the 'Oh-My-God'
bad-mannerisms of less-pleasant super-ships. Yeah, I love the
damned thing.
So... imagine my pleasure when I get confirmation of the a new
and beefier sister to the old gal I knew so well and loved so
much... Mark says that "the fuselage is well along, the wings are
underway and it will soon be on the gear."
The SNS-540 will be available as a "basic kit." "What I have
decided to do instead of getting into elaborate kits is to offer
what I call the 'basic package.' It is similar to the approach we
used in the ‘70s and ‘80s. We will then discuss options
that are tailored to each individual builder. I am working on a
list of components and will be offering that information soon."
The Basic SNS-540 Package contains:
- Four wings complete and treated internally. All that remains is
fabric covering and finish.
- Fuselage sides assembled and tack-welded.
- Plans and construction manual. (If you already purchased these
you can deduct $125.00 off the cost of the package)
- The introductory price for the basic package is $14,125.00
(minus shipping/handling).
Sorrell will sell plans and a construction manual for the truly
D-I-Y types, for $125.00, but notes that "These plans are not
computer-generated. These are works of art-hand drawn and
inked."
Sorrell also plans to offer a number of components that specific
to the Hiperbipe including cowl, wheel pants, formed Plexiglas
windshield, machined and heat-treated landing gear and so on. Since
there are so many suppliers for aircraft tubing, sheet stock,
aluminum, etc. Sorrell has decided to stay away from offering raw
materials.
Details and pricing is still incomplete, but Mark hopes to
release the first components by March of '04 and expect to limit
the effort to six such packages for 2004 in order to stay ahead of
the process and give proper prep time to his suppliers.
ANN will keep you up to date on this development program... and
REALLY looks forward to trying out the SNS-540...
ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.01.24): Say Altitude
See All