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| Defiant | |
|---|---|
 Rutan Defiant | |
| General information | |
| Type | Homebuilt aircraft |
| National origin | America |
| Manufacturer | Rutan Aircraft Factory |
| Designer | |
| History | |
| First flight | 30 June 1978 |
TheRutan Model 40 Defiant is a four-seat, twin-enginehomebuilt aircraft with the engines in apush-pull configuration. It was designed byaerospace engineerBurt Rutan for theRutan Aircraft Factory.
The prototype Defiant, N78RA, was first flown on 30 June 1978. It had been intended as a proof-of-concept of a very safe light twin design, requiring little trim change and no pilot action in case of engine failure, and with good single engine performance. A comparison of the Defiant single engine climb rate with aGulfstream Cougar had shown about 390 feet (120 m) vs 280 feet (85 m) per minute at low altitude with both aircraft in a clean, gear up and flaps up, configuration. The prototype is now owned by theHiller Aviation Museum.
In 1979 the Rutan Aircraft Factory announced they would proceed with certification of a Defiant-based light twin. Adequate financing was not secured for this project, and the design was modified for homebuilt construction as theModel 74, with the second aircraft (built by Fred Keller) appearing atOshkosh 1983.[1] Plans were offered in mid-1984. 176 sets of plans were purchased before RAF discontinued selling plans in 1985.[2] Nine examples were known to be flying as of mid-1987. Nineteen are registered with theFAA as of 2005.
The Defiant is built using fiberglass layup over polymeric foam core shapes in the same manner as theRutan VariEze. The main gear is fixed, and there are no flaps. The Propellers are fixed-pitch non-feathering,[3] which is unusual in a twin-engine design. Cockpit entry is through a side hinged canopy.[1] The winglets provide yaw stability.[3] Unusually, the Defiant has a ventral, port offset, forward mounted rudder, as can be seen in pictures of the plane taxiing.
General characteristics
Performance
