Challenger Jet: Flyers Delight

What happens when you combine low drag tandem seating, an engine tucked behind the cabin out of the slipstream, and an eye for detail in the streamlining department? You get an airplane that just naturally wants to go fast!

The Challenger II weighs 100-200 pounds less than its competitors. To put this in perspective, that's the weight of a passenger, or of 20 to 30 gallons of fuel. The long wing Challenger has 40-70% more lifting surface than competitive designs. Even the clip wing has 20-40% more area. More lift means less horsepower is needed to achieve goals. And less horsepower in turn means less money!

The first Challenger flew way back in 1983 and took the ultra light industry a great leap forward. Instead of resembling hang gliders or lawn chairs with chain saw motors, Challengers looked and flew like actual airplanes.

The cruise speeds of the era were nearly doubled and suddenly pilots could fly in real world winds and weather instead of only during the calm of sunrise and sunset. Early owners made headlines and received awards for multi-thousand mile cross-country flights - without ground support vehicles in trail!

Today, 2,700 airplanes and over 100 design changes later, the new Challenger is dramatically more capable and maintains its position at the front of the pack. The Challenger now uses the latest version of the Rotax 503 engine, a dual ignition power plant designed specifically for aircraft. With thousands in use worldwide, it has the best reliability record of any light aircraft engine.

This 503 and the Challenger's new 2.6-to-1 reduction drive and bigger 60-inch prop generate substantially more thrust. This in combination with streamlining options available today translates into 30 mph more cruise speed, substantially higher climb rates, shorter takeoffs and zippier float operations. The new propulsion system is also much quieter.

Quite recently, new ailerons were incorporated which reduce adverse yaw and clean up air flow to the propeller. New optional fiberglass wingtips shorten the span of the long wing by two feet, increasing speeds and providing faster roll rates. These new ailerons and tips give the airplane a noticeably crisper feel.

Also recently, new stronger main axles and nose gear plus a new braking system made ground handling more robust. And to ice the cake, on the inside new seats create a more spacious cabin for both pilot and passenger! It is very important to realize that older Challengers cannot measure up to the most recent versions in terms of performance, reliability, appearance and even comfort. All these changes in the design are the result of many thousands of hours experience with the airplane in all types of flying conditions worldwide.