Aircraft Description - First Generation Production

A revised design of the Stratos, intended to be prepared for production, was created during 1986-87. The new design featured a larger cockpit and other changes that would allow for engines up to 50 hp, including the Rotax 477.

The differenced between the original prototype and the intended production version included:

A larger and more spacious cockpit

The center stick was changed to dual side stick controls

Three degree dihedral on main wing was removed

Split control surfaces on the wings were changed to separate control surfaces, including a full span elevator on canard and full span ailerons on main wing

A channel or third “wing” was added to the fuselage. The bottom of the channel blended into the duct. Two different accounts of the purpose of the duct have been advanced:

Ron Ligeti’s interpretation is that the ducted fan drew air over the channel to create a low pressure area and increase lift.

Romeo Garcia, a member of the original construction team, reports that the purpose was to channel more air into the duct for improved propulsion.

It is believed that one or more of these modifications changed the stall characteristics significantly, possibly by occluding or creating turbulence ahead of the duct at a high angle of attack.