The Alpha Aviation Alpha 2000 is a two-seat, all-metal training and general aviation aircraft, designed by Chris Heintz and built in

Hamilton, New Zealand Hamilton ( mi, Kirikiriroa) is an inland city in the North Island of New Zealand. Located on the banks of the Waikato River, it is the seat and most populous city of the Waikato region. With a territorial population of , it is the country's ...

. It continues the successful French

Apex Aircraft Apex Aircraft was a French company devoted to light aeroplane manufacture. It markets three ranges of light aircraft which it brands Robin, Alpha and CAP. The "Robin" range is the former Avions Robin DR400 4-seater aircraft of wooden construction ...

's Robin R2000 series acquired upon Apex's purchase of the

Avions Robin Robin Aircraft is a French manufacturer of light aircraft. It succeeds to ''Centre-Est Aéronautique'', ''Avions Pierre Robin'' and Apex Aircraft (''Avions Robin'' and ''Robin Aviation''). History Centre-Est Aéronautique was formed by Pierre ...

company.

History 1971–1994

The original

HR200 was designed by Christophe Heintz, to supplement the earlier

designs of Jean Délémontez who also designed the popular post war wooden

Jodel Société Avions Jodel is a French aircraft company started in 1946 by Édouard Joly and his son-in-law Jean Délémontez. History Jodel designed a range of light aeroplanes shortly after the Second World War. The popular myth is that the ...

. The HR 200 prototype first flew on 19 July 1971, and entered production in 1973. The R2000 Alpha name was applied to a new aircraft which shared the fuselage of the HR 200, but had all new wing and tail surfaces, to allow

aerobatics Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in conventional passenger-carrying flights. The term is a portmanteau of "aerial" and "acrobatics". Aerobatics are performed in aeroplanes and glide ...

. The prototype R2000 Alpha flew on 15 January 1976 and production followed in 1977 to 1983. The aircraft features side-by-side seating, an innovative control stick mechanism which reduces the risk of blockage and an unusually large payload for an aerobatic aircraft, making it useful for overland trips as well. Licensed production was also undertaken in Canada.

History 1994–2004

The R2160 model was returned to production with minor modifications in 1994 by Apex Aircraft. It was stressed to +6/−3 g and has a

MTOW The maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) or maximum gross takeoff weight (MGTOW) or maximum takeoff mass (MTOM) of an aircraft is the maximum weight at which the pilot is allowed to attempt to take off, due to structural or other limits. The analogous ...

of 900 kg. There was also a

fuel injected Fuel injection is the introduction of fuel in an internal combustion engine, most commonly automotive engines, by the means of an injector. This article focuses on fuel injection in reciprocating piston and Wankel rotary engines. All comp ...

model (R2160i) and a non-aerobatic 120 hp trainer.

New Zealand production 2004–2008

In 2004 Alpha Aviation of New Zealand bought engineering jigs and equipment and worldwide production rights to both the Robin HR200 and Robin R2000 series. Alpha Aviation has recommenced production of the Robin R2120 as the Alpha 2000 120T and of the Robin R2160 as the Alpha 2000 160A and 160Ai. Apex continues to market the aircraft in Europe. Production of the New Zealand development began in 2006 against orders for nine aircraft and eighteen options (including orders from the UK, South Africa and Australia), with capacity to build four aircraft a month. An Alpha 160A, ZK-FXY, was first off the production line, being test flown on 12 April 2006. It was subsequently used as a company demonstrator. It made its first public appearance at the 2006

Warbirds over Wanaka Warbirds over Wanaka is a biennial air show in Wānaka, held on the Easter weekend of even-numbered years since 1988. It is held at Wānaka Airport, 10 km south-east of Wānaka, in the southern South Island of New Zealand. Initially conceive ...

airshow An air show (or airshow, air fair, air tattoo) is a public event where aircraft are exhibited. They often include aerobatics demonstrations, without they are called "static air shows" with aircraft parked on the ground. The largest air show ...

. In January 2008 production was halted due to the liquidation of Alpha Aviation by parent company Inventis.Alpha Aviation put into liquidation
/ref> Alpha Aviation Holdings Limited in New Zealand continues to hold the type certificate. The STC for spare parts supply was re-acquired by CEAPR in France in 2017.

Variants

Robin/Apex

;R 2100A :Powered by 81 kW (108 hp)

Lycoming O-235 The Lycoming O-235 is a family of four-cylinder, air-cooled, horizontally opposed piston aircraft engines that produce , derived from the earlier O-233 engine.Textron Lycoming: ''Operator's Manual, Textron Lycoming Aircraft Engines, Series O-23 ...

engine.Donald 1997, p.777. 34 builtTaylor 1982, p.77. ;R 2112 Alpha :Replacement for R 2100 with 83.5 kW (112 hp) Lycoming O-235 engine. ;R 2160 Alpha Sport :119 kW (160 hp)

Lycoming O-320 The Lycoming O-320 is a large family of naturally aspirated, air-cooled, four-cylinder, direct-drive engines produced by Lycoming Engines. They are commonly used on light aircraft such as the Cessna 172 and Piper Cherokee. Different variants ...

engine. Originally named Acrobin. R 2160 D: technically identical version with slightly reduced max. allowed RPM to meet German noise limitations.

Alpha Aviation

As of 2006 three variants are offered. The approximate horsepower of each is indicated by the type number. ;Alpha 120T:the smallest and cheapest, envisaged as a trainer. ;Alpha 160A:a more powerful fully aerobatic trainer. ;Alpha 160Ai:a fuel injected engine and equipped for cross country touring as well as aerobatics.

Specifications (R2160 Alpha Sport)

References

* Donald, David (ed.).''The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft''. Leicester: Blitz, 1997. . * Taylor, John W. R. (ed.). ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83''. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. .

External links

Alpha Aviation website
{{Robin aircraft Alpha 2000 1970s French sport aircraft Low-wing aircraft 1970s New Zealand aircraft HR200 Single-engined tractor aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1976