With the arrival of parts for assembly after a few days delay due to weather, C7 Aerospace has handed us the blueprints and details for the next addition to the Genesis Program – the Production model of the Civvie single-seat/engine aircraft. The Prototype model that has been flying the last several months was constructed to extremely high crash tolerances that added a lot of extra bulk to the aircraft in addition to having to make room above the cockpit for the recovery parachute. With these requirements removed, the Production model is able to move the wings in slightly for better stability and lighten the airframe for better performance. These changes caused the aircraft to become nose-heavy, so extra fuel tanks were added in the tail and behind the engine to increase the length of the aircraft and move the center of mass back behind the center of lift. The extra fuel will increase the Civvie’s range significantly as well. Despite the additional weight of the fuel and tanks, the new Civvie weighs in at 0.305t lighter.
Additional improvements include a manually-controlled variable-mixture engine to provide better fuel performance at higher altitudes, although the propeller is still fixed-pitch and non-reversible for easier maintenance. A new electrical system will support 4 Z-60 batteries to be used when transmitting science data, although they will need to be replaced once spent. A beefier engine alternator will supply extra power to a cockpit heating system to keep the pilot comfortable at higher altitudes. Trim tabs have been added to control surfaces to lighten the pilot workload in flight. All navigation lights have been integrated directly into the wings and fuselage for a better streamline. As before, two science bays will be available to carry instruments on flights.
The aircraft will be constructed with the utmost care over the next several weeks for test flights in late February. Everyone is eager to see how she will perform!
