Kappa 77 KP 2U-SOVA - Design and Development

Design and Development

Jilhavan Aircraft built the Kappa Sova for Kappa 77 from 1997 to 2004 and obtained marketing rights in 2005 when Kappa became insolvent. They became a subsidiary of Skyleader in 2008 when the type was re-designated Jihlavan Skyleader. It is a all-metal design apart from a carbon fibre cockpit frame. It has two spar tapered wings with 6° of dihedral, electrically operated Fowler flaps and upturned Küchemann tips. The fin and rudder are swept. The straight tapered tailplane is set on top of the fuselage, the port elevator carrying a trim tab.

The original Sova/Skyleader 150 has staggered side-by-side configuration seating with the starboard seat 200 mm (8 in) aft of the other but a widened fuselage allows the Skyleader 200 to have true side-by-side seating. The earlier version has a forward hinged canopy with fixed rear transparencies; the Skyleader 200 has a single piece canopy. Both these variants normally have an electrically actuated tricycle undercarriage with a steerable nosewheel, though a fixed version is an option and is standard on the later Skyleader 500 and 600 variants. The standard engine for the 150/200 variants is a 60 kW (80 hp) Rotax 912UL, though the more powerful Rotax 912ULS or Rotax 914 can be fitted, all driving a choice of two blade propellers. The 500/600 variants can also use the Rotax 912 UL or Rotax 912S; the Jabiru 2200 or 3300 engines may also be fitted. The Skyleader 500/600 variants have three blade propellers.

The Kappa 77 KP-2U Sova first flew on 26 May 1966 and the KP-5 Rapid 500 (later the Skyleader 500) in December 2003. Czech certification was achieved in September 1977 and March 2004 respectively. The Skyleader is produced in both kit and flyaway form.