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| Combining the visibility of a helicopter with outstanding slow-flying capabilities, the original concept for the Edgley EA7 Optica was as a three-seat touring aircraft. Designer John Edgley, at that time a post-graduate student at the Imperial College of Science & Technology, London, began the final aerodynamic design in 1974 and a model was wind tunnel tested in 1975. Construction of a prototype began in 1976 in London, and final assembly was carried out at the College of Aeronautics, Cranfield. The first flight was made on 14 December 1979 with a 119kW Avco Lycoming O-320 engine but this was later changed to a 134kW IO-360. The engine drives a five-bladed fixed-pitch ducted fan, and the Optica is claimed to be the world's quietest powered aircraft.
Mounting the whole cockpit assembly ahead of the fan and engine gives the pilot and passengers 270° panoramic vision, plus almost vertical downward vision; the cockpit canopy design allows photography through the panels. The tricycle landing gear is fixed and unfaired, with maintenance-free solid suspension, and the airf rame is of all-metal construction; its internal cabin width of 1.68m permits three-abreast seating, while baggage space and positions for mounting specialised observation equipment are provided behind the seats and in the unrestricted floor area in front of the two passenger seats.
Roles for the Optica are virtually unlimited, from the obvious aerial photography and surveillance patrols to traffic reporting, powerline inspection etc, and it has the ability to perform much of a helicopter's work with fixed-wing economy and range. Considerable interest was shown in the Optica from the time of its first appearance, and at the 1981 Paris air show the announcement of a first production order was made - 25 for Australian distributor H. C. Sleigh Aviation Ltd.
With GBP 2.3-million funding, Edgley bought Old Sarum airfield near Salisbury, and set up a production line in existing hangars. Initial plans covered the construction of 200 aircraft, beginning in mid-1983, with first production models to be available at the end of that year for approximately GBP 55,000 each. However, the crash of an early production aircraft in 1985 led to the collapse of the company. In October 1985, Optica Industries was formed to continue activities, and by the end of 1986 15 aircraft had been produced. In January 1987 the factory was destroyed by arson along with all but one airworthy Optica. The company was reformed again as Brooklands Aircraft (later Aerospace), and the Optica Scout, renamed the Scoutmaster, returned to production with a 194kW Textron Lycoming O-540 engine. Six had been delivered to customers by the end of 1989. In March 1990, after building another five aircraft, all manufacturing was halted and a receiver called in. In July 1990 the Optica project was acquired by Lovaux Ltd at Hum and a resumption of full-scale production and marketing is planned. Continuing optimism for the Optica concept is supported by market studies indicating that around 8,000 aircraft are used wholly or partly for observation work, ranging from expensive helicopters to simple single-engined fixed-wing types, but none specifically designed for the task, and a sales penetration of 5% or 10% would bring substantial business.
| ENGINE | 1 x Avco Lycoming IO-360 flat-four piston engine driving a ducted fan, 149kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 1236 kg | 2725 lb |
| Empty weight | 850 kg | 1874 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 11.99 m | 39 ft 4 in |
| Length | 8.15 m | 27 ft 9 in |
| Height | 2.31 m | 8 ft 7 in |
| Wing area | 15.84 m2 | 170.50 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 203 km/h | 126 mph |
| Cruise speed | 174 km/h | 108 mph |
| Ceiling | 4265 m | 14000 ft |
| Range | 1046 km | 650 miles |
| Chuck, e-mail, 31.10.2009 06:58 Had the opportunity to log some stick time in 1990 as a demo flight for a Law Enforcement Agency in Florida...found it a joy in flight with a very unique feel. Too bad it didn't catch on. reply | | Steve, e-mail, 14.08.2009 04:44 I had the pleasure of working for Edgeley Aircraft when they were at Old Sarum, Salisbury. It was a concept by far ahead of its time. It is brilliant news to hear that the manufacturing rights are back with the original designer Mr Edgeley. I wish him all the luck in this competitive world today. reply |
| Bob Begano, e-mail, 01.05.2009 20:43 I have some pictures of me with a black and white one that was in our hanger at Vero Beach Municipal Airport (Florida) around 1988. Very cool plane. Does anybody know where this plane is today? I heard rumer it was in a James Bond movie but I dont know which one. reply | | Jim R, e-mail, 21.04.2009 00:56 I have a picture of my daughter standing in front of one of these. This picture was taken in Blaine Minnesota at Jane's Field Discover Aviation Days in May 17, 2003. I did not get to see it fly although it appeared to be fully functional. It is truly remarkable to walk around. The owner of this aircraft also owned a couple off early British jet fighters. reply | |
| | Bill Tee, e-mail, 20.01.2009 22:07 58 knot stall speed seems awfully high for an aircraft designed for its purpose. Also an empty weight of over 2000 lbs seems very high for a three seat aircraft. a 4 seat Cessna 172 GROSSES at little over that reply |
| freetoadventure, e-mail, 01.10.2008 18:38 cool looking plane...
www.freetoadventure.com / reply | | neville .r. burton, e-mail, 17.08.2008 22:00 as final assembly foreman for the first production aircraft it was well desinged and well engineered good luck with it if possible i would like to come to your production facility good luck . neville reply | | Emlyn Coldicott, e-mail, 14.08.2008 10:59 PRESS RELEASE
John Edgley, the engineer who established the Optica project – the radical design concept for a slow-flying observation aircraft that was so far ahead of its time when launched in the early 1980's, is pleased to announce that he has recently repurchased the design rights plus the jigs and tools needed for production, together with three aircraft, the first of which 021(G-BOPO) is now flying again.
Today, post 9 /11, there appears to be a growing market for an aircraft that will fulfil many of the roles of a helicopter, but at a fraction of the cost both in monetary and environmental terms.
The Optica can fill operational needs in both civil and military tasks for observation and detection work.
It has Short Take Off and Landing performance from unprepared surfaces or roads. It has a slow cruise and is extremely maneuverable, it also has unparalleled visibility for a fixed wing aircraft and has about twice the endurance of a helicopter.
The Optica also has a low impact in environmental terms because of its low noise levels and emissions.
It is simple and uncomplicated to operate and is a flexible platform for a wide variety of roles: surveillance, border security, pipe and power line protection, fire detection, research and rescue, anomaly analysis, coastal safety and spotting and mapping and when fitted with video and inferred cameras it has powerful day and night capabilities. All this at the costs of a fixed wing aircraft.
In recent years the business has been held back by the lack of a manufacturing base and ongoing customer support. This sadly was a major factor in bringing to a close the use of the aircraft in forest fire monitoring in Spain, one aircraft has flown some 3000 hours on fire detection duties – trouble free and on budget.
Now, after his original involvement ceased in the mid eighties, John Edgley, together with Emlyn Coldicott and three former employees of the original Edgley Aircraft Limited, has established a new company called AeroElvira Limited*, with the conviction that it is now possible to re-establish the aircraft type as a significant player in the role of aerial observation well into the second decade of the twenty first century.
The first public appearance of the Optica will be at the "Neville Duke Day"** at Compton Abbas on Sunday 17th August, followed by Sywell Airshow 2008 on the 24th August.
For more information please call:
Emlyn Coldicott tel 01932 830150 mob 079710 34452
Email emlyn@aeroelvira.co.uk
* AeroElvira Limited also owns the Sprint 160 two seater aerobatic trainer, and the EA9 Optimist glider projects.
** Squadron Leader Neville Duke was the most successful fighter pilot in Mediterranean Theatre and was decorated for gallantry six times. He went on to become one of the world's foremost test pilots. In 1953 he established a world airspeed record at sea level of 727.63 mph flying a Hunter. Later in his career he was the test pilot for the Optica. reply | | cyberbot, e-mail, 15.05.2008 09:49 why do all the best designs seem to suffer the similar fates. I've seen videos of this plane and it's major military selling point was it's quietness in cruise mode. It was so quiet that you couldn't hear it coming up on you from a cliff, having no resonation effects. The problem with this plane and many other greats like it (BD-5, Ez-Long) isn't the design or engineering, but the success they all faced created too much pressure to develop something that they already had delivered, but weren't allowed to mass produce. Could you image if they hadn't suffered all these unlucky circumstances?..These planes would be everywhere, driving a lot of business out..Why all these planes are considered 'retired'...they are too good for commercial use! reply | | David, e-mail, 27.03.2008 04:44 Some yease ago I had the privilage of a flight in an Optica around the Isle of White. Whilst flying we spotted a boat with a heliocopter pad on the bow. They were as interested in us as we were of them... it turned out to be the Calypso.. At the time I was interesteing in purchasing the company, but they wanted too much for it. Does any one know what the latest state is of this really fabulous aircraft? reply | | Mike, e-mail, 15.11.2007 18:22 Martin Please e-mail me. I build Scale RC and have some questions for you. drblott@yahoo.com the e-mail links do not seem to work reply | | Martin Waterhouse, e-mail, 09.11.2007 05:14 Eat your hearts out guys...I am a very lucky owner of an optica...Paul you are very wrong, the plane is probably the quietest piston aircraft you can get.It is air-conditioned and very comfortable to fly. Every person I take for a fly say it is the best plane ride they have ever had.The aircraft is powered by a lycoming
540....260 HP. I flew it from Kuala Lumpar to Sydney. What a great adventure.It is so comfortable and easy to fly you can go all day in it and not get tired. Most aircraft leave you exhausted after only a couple of hours.The last time I took my wife for a fly she fell asleep in it. reply | | Marco Lütolf, e-mail, 19.08.2007 17:57 Hallo zusammen wer weiss wo ich baupläne dieses flugobiektes finde. um ein RC Modell bauen zu können...
gruss Marco Lütolf reply | | Paul, e-mail, 25.07.2007 02:04 This aircraft was evaluated by the USAF Aeronautical Systems Division at Wright-Patterson AFB in the late 1970's (IIRC). Potential COIN or helicopter replacement. It flew right over my quarters on the base many times and was NOT a quiet airplane. In fact, it made a louder, or at least more disturbing noise than the B-52s, KC-135s and C-141s then resident. reply | |
| | Mike, e-mail, 14.05.2007 16:33 A promotional scale model was available at an airshow several years ago. Have not heard of it since. The Plane should be in production soon. A company in Waco Texas will build them to help with border security. OPTICA lonestar. reply | | Albert Lambrecht, e-mail, 06.05.2007 12:32 Hello, does anybody know a reasonable scale model kit of this ac? I've seen it flying at our former airfield in Baden-Baden, Germany a long time back. There should be some slides aroung, I think. reply | | Mohamed, e-mail, 03.01.2007 18:45 can you send me a Recommendation about the Optica please??? Regards Mohammed reply | | Pat Reidy, 04.01.2007 12:28 This aircraft should have been established years ago. It has all the hallmarks of being a first class machine, fit for purpose. I hope an investigation will be re-opened to find the arsonist /s who delayed its prescents on the world stage. Good luck to the new team reply | | capt val darcy, e-mail, 17.01.2007 19:46 i've always loved everything about this aircraft & im sorry theres not
more of them around today. reply |
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All the World's Rotorcraft |
Bill Tee
Hello,
My name is Julian Dominguez, I am the Licensing Manager for Microsoft Flight Simulator. I was hoping you'd be able to connect me with someone who works with the Edgeley Optica, as we are hoping to feature the aircraft in the latest version of Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Best,
Julian
reply