Development
Former SZD sailplane engineer Adam Kurbiel designed the predecessor of 3X55, the EOL-VLA, to conform to European JAR-VLA rules. That plane was modified through the years to meet Canadian Advanced Ultralight and US Light Sport Aircraft rules. The 3X47 version is specifically for the European market to meet those standards.
The designation 3X55 means “3Xtrim Aircraft - 550 kg gross weight” while the 3X47 refers to its 470 kg gross weight.
The European versions feature extensive structural use of carbon fibre to achieve lightness, while the 3X55 is predominantly of fibreglass construction. Otherwise the two aircraft are similar in appearance and performance.
The 3X55 first flew in 1996 and by the summer of 2006 about 60 aircraft of both types had been produced by 2006.
Read more about this topic: 3Xtrim 3X55 Trener
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