19 December 2017
Sonaca Aircraft is closing in on European type certification for its new two-seater, the Sonaca 200. The aircraft is in the final phase of flight tests and Sonaca has completed a static and fatigue analysis.
The delivery of the first Sonaca 200 is scheduled for the beginning of 2018, said the Belgian company.
The stress and fatigue analysis was undertaken in-house using SONIA, Sonaca’s own structural computing environment.
“SONIA automates and standardises our sizing process,” said Albert-Paul Gonze, Head of Sonaca’s Numerical Methods team. “SONIA is able to solve very complex problems such as impact resistance, de-icing, non-linear behaviour, large deformation, fatigue analysis and damage tolerance, etc.”
Carl Dewandel, Head of Structure Compliance at Sonaca Aircraft, said, “In the specific case of the Sonaca 200, the digital model included the 800 parts and 15,000 rivets that make up the plane. SONIA has made it possible to precisely calculate the safety coefficients and to maximise the reliability of all the elements.”
After successfully passing the static test programme as well as all stability, noise, vibration, performance and stall tests, the Sonaca 200 will shortly begin the final flight-test phase – spin tests.
Sonaca 200
Fast Facts
Max cruise speed 115kt
Climb rate 750fpm
Seats 2
Wingspan 9.15m
Length 7m
Empty weight 750kg
Fuel capacity 140 litres
Engine Rotax 914F producing 115hp
Fuel burn 18 litres/hr
Price 175,000 euro
