The Antelope stands out from the rest of affordable, kit-built aircraft. The primary advantages to this aircraft are its ease to build, low cost, comfort, performance and safety characteristics. Below is a summary of some of the elements that make this aircraft unique.
There are several innovative techniques used in the design of the Antelope that are essential to meeting the goals of this project. The primary structural piece of the Antelope is a strong, composite keel which runs the length of the entire aircraft. This keel is constructed with a large, foam core wrapped with layers of bi-directional glass and uni-directional carbon fibers. Once complete, the keel provides an attachment point for all of the bulkheads, engine mount, and fire wall. This greatly accelerates the build process and also gives the Antelope a strong, stiff airframe to build from. The wing is swept back slightly so that its spar is straight, easing its construction. Also, the aft section of the fuselage is constructed from fabric to save weight.
One primary goal of the Antelope project is to create a kit that can not only be easy to build, but also perform as well as any aircraft in its class. The Antelope has been designed to achieve a low stall speed of 42 knots while also being able to cruise at 156 knots. To achieve the minimum amount of drag, the gear were designed to be retractable with a simple, mechanical linkage to ensure reliability. Also, the configuration of the landing gear is conventional as opposed to tricicyle. A conventional configuration was chosen so that the gear could be retractable as well as to save weight. Laminar-flow airfoils for both the wing and the horizontal stabilator and both are constructed from composite materials. To ensure responsive control, a stabilator is employed. Split flaps are used to prevent 'floating' which can occur with clean aircraft by substantially increasing drag while still providing as much lift as plain flaps. Additionally, the wing has been designed so that the Antelope has very docile stall characteristics. The engine is also critical for the Antelope to reach its performance expectations. With its high power to weight ratio and low fuel consumption, the Antelope can reach an endurance of 10+ hours with a range of 1350 nautical miles.
The weight of the Antelope makes it one of the lightest two-seat aircraft. With an empty weight of 400 lbs (181 kg) and a useful load of 800 lbs (363 kg), the Antelope has exceptional weight characteristics. By only applying structure where it is absolutely needed and by using a very light engine (130 lbs), weight and complexity is kept to a minimum. The primary wing uses a non-detachable, carry through spar to eliminate the need for the fittings and brackets needed for a detachable wing while concurrently reducing the amount of structural reinforcement which would have also been needed.
Safety has been a major concern for the Antelope project. In the event of a landing with the gear up, the keel acts as a skid, preventing damage to the cockpit area. Also, a bulkhead is placed immediately behind the seats, which acts as a roll cage in the event of a crash. The Antelope's low stall speed increases the ease of landing, which is the flight regime with the most frequent accidents.
To achieve maximum market penetration, the kit's cost has been kept as low as possible. By simplifying the structural design and using a low-cost Hirth engine, the kit with engine should cost less than $30,000.
Antelope's timeless design and classic lines combined with its state of the art dynamics and structural integrity make it capable of being a favored classic for years to come.