Released today over at www.britsim.com is the latest British aeroplane to come from myself, Dave Molyneaux and Brian Horsey - the FLS Sprint 160. This project means a lot to me as I've grown up with the design, as the prototype was built at my local airfield (where I was a hangar rat) and since then have followed its progress and then managed to fly in the current version too. A wonderful, wonderful aeroplane sadly hindered by initial bad management and sales techniques. If it had been built in great numbers it would have replaced the 150s and PA28s we see at our local flying schools, but sadly this was not to be. A brief summary of its past is as follows, but more information is available in the history.txt file which accompanies the model:
The Sprint 160 was a technically brilliant aircraft much admired by all who flew it, which never achieved the success
it deserved, being dogged by years of commercial frustration. It was originally designed and built under the patronage of Mike Robinson, the owner of the Trago Mills chain of stores and an avid pilot.
It was originally conceived as a classic British trainer with aerobatic capabilities. The original model, registered in 1980, was designated the SAH-1 and was fitted with a 118 hp Lycoming engine driving a fixed pitch prop.
The more popular variant we've modelled here is the Sprint-160 fitted with a 160 hp engine and a constant speed propeller.
The aircraft will fly in FSX with the usual provisos.
Each aeroplane that we build is modelled as close as we can to the real thing, as you probably know with the Austers, Chrisleas etc that we have provided you with in the past. Never ever just working from a 3 view drawing and some brief internet write up, we have always strived to produce an accurate model (within the confines of FS9) and so have used technical manuals, pilots notes, advice from current and past owners and lots of lots of photographs.
With this project we have one person to thank immensely - that being Matt Burleigh (SOH's Firebar) as without his wonderful assistance (and that of his Dad Chris!), the project would have never got off the ground. As Matt's Father is the current owner of the Sprint actually modelled and also holder of the type certification, we had superb support at all times. Nothing was too much trouble and this has to be one of the most accurate models we have produced. Thank you Matt!!!
I hope you all enjoy flying her as much as we have had in its development. Its just a shame that only a few were built as like myself and countless others, you would have loved the experience.
Happy Landings,
Martin Pengelly
The Sprint 160 was a technically brilliant aircraft much admired by all who flew it, which never achieved the success
it deserved, being dogged by years of commercial frustration. It was originally designed and built under the patronage of Mike Robinson, the owner of the Trago Mills chain of stores and an avid pilot.
It was originally conceived as a classic British trainer with aerobatic capabilities. The original model, registered in 1980, was designated the SAH-1 and was fitted with a 118 hp Lycoming engine driving a fixed pitch prop.
The more popular variant we've modelled here is the Sprint-160 fitted with a 160 hp engine and a constant speed propeller.
The aircraft will fly in FSX with the usual provisos.
Each aeroplane that we build is modelled as close as we can to the real thing, as you probably know with the Austers, Chrisleas etc that we have provided you with in the past. Never ever just working from a 3 view drawing and some brief internet write up, we have always strived to produce an accurate model (within the confines of FS9) and so have used technical manuals, pilots notes, advice from current and past owners and lots of lots of photographs.
With this project we have one person to thank immensely - that being Matt Burleigh (SOH's Firebar) as without his wonderful assistance (and that of his Dad Chris!), the project would have never got off the ground. As Matt's Father is the current owner of the Sprint actually modelled and also holder of the type certification, we had superb support at all times. Nothing was too much trouble and this has to be one of the most accurate models we have produced. Thank you Matt!!!
I hope you all enjoy flying her as much as we have had in its development. Its just a shame that only a few were built as like myself and countless others, you would have loved the experience.
Happy Landings,
Martin Pengelly
if you can find the 'swoosh scheme' plans.... Fantastic!