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EA-7 Optica
Edgley Optica (source: Edgley Aircraft)
Role	Observation
National origin	UK
Manufacturer	Edgley
Designed by	John Edgley
First flight	14 December 1979
Number built	21

The Edgley EA-7 Optica was a British light aircraft designed for observation work, intended as a low-cost alternative to helicopters, retailing originally at around US$200,000.

Overview

The Optica, designed by John Edgley and built by Brooklands Aerospace, had an unusual configuration with a fully-glazed forward cabin seating three across, reminiscent of an Alouette helicopter. Behind it was situated a Lycoming flat-six engine powering a ducted fan, twin boom cantilever tailplane with twin rudders and a high-mounted single elevator. The fixed tricycle undercarriage had the nosewheel offset to the left. The wings were unswept and untapered, and the aircraft was of a fairly standard all-metal construction with stressed aluminium skin. The aircraft's distinctive appearance led to it being known as the "bug-eye" in some popular reports.

It first flew on 14 December 1979 , powered by a 150 hp (112 kW) Lycoming O-320 engine. The Optica, now powered by a more powerful Lycoming O-540, entered production in 1983, achieving certification on 8 February 1985. A crash of police Optica G-KATY on 15 May 1985 killed two members of the Hampshire ConstabularyThe cause was suspected to be a stall: insufficient airspeed during a turn causing instability. The reason for the low speed was never established. This led to the bankruptcy of Edgley, with Optica Industries being formed in October 1985 to continue production and 25 were built before a fire caused by arson destroyed the factory and all but one flying Optica. The company was reformed again as Brooklands Aircraft, and the Optica returned to production, production ceasing in March 1990, when Brooklands Aircraft went bankrupt.

An example featured in the 1989 movie Slipstream.

There was a grounding order by the FAA due to cracks developed in the wing spars but this is not in force as there are two examples flying in the U.S. and two are flying in Australia. There are a further two in storage in the UK.

The Design of the Optica has now been bought by John Edgley once more (along with the design for the FLS Sprint 160). Edgley hopes to put both types into production and further to that goal the Optica 300 Series s/n 021 G-BOPO is being restored as a UK type demonstrator.

Specifications (Optica Scout)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 1988-1989

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Capacity: 2 passengers
• Length: 8.15 m (26 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 12.0 m (39 ft 4 in)
• Height: 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in)
• Wing area: 15.8 m² (171 ft²)
• Airfoil: NASA GA(W)-1
• Empty weight: 948 kg (2,090 lb)
• Useful load: 367 kg (810 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 1,315 kg (2,900 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Textron Lycoming IO-540-V4A5D flat six piston engine, 194 kW (200 hp)
• Propellers: five bladed ducted fan propeller, 1 per engine

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 259 km/h (140 knots, 161 mph)
• Maximum speed: 213 km/h (115 knots, 132 mph)
• Cruise speed: 130 km/h (70 knots, 81 mph) "loiter speed" at 40% power)
• Stall speed: 108 km/h (58 knots, 67 mph)
• Range: 1,056 km (570 nm, 656 mi)
• Service ceiling: 4,275 m (14,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 4.12 m/s (810 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 83.0 kg/m² (17.0 lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: 0.148 kW/kg (0.0897 hp/lb)
• Endurance: 8 h (at loiter speed)

Avionics
1 x IR/Camera Turret in recessed bay in nose. 1 x Skyshout Loudspeaker (Police Equipment)

See also

Comparable aircraft

• Brdischka HB23 Scanliner
• Heston JC.6
  

Notes

Bibliography

External links

• Aviastar.org
• AeroElvira
• Optica

Photos

• (G-BMPL)
• (G-BGMW)
• (G-BOPN)

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Published in July 2009.

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