title: Aviastroitel AC-7M
text: # Aviastroitel AC-7M
  
  The Aviastroitel AC-7M is a Russian mid-wing, T-tailed, two-seats in side-by-side configuration motor glider that was designed by Vladimir Egorovich Fedorov and produced by Aviastroitel, now Glider Air Craft.
  
  ## Design and development
  
  Development of the AC-7M was started in 2002, it was first flown in 2005 and by 2006 two prototypes had been completed.
  
  The AC-7M is a conventional self-launching sailplane, but is equipped with a more powerful retractable pusher configuration Hirth F30A25A 77.2 kW (104 hp) two stroke engine than is normal in these types, allowing it to be also used as a glider tug and as touring motor glider. The aircraft is capable of cruising at 180 km/h (112 mph) for 1,800 km (1,118 mi) while burning only 9 litres per hour (2.0 imp gal/h; 2.4 US gal/h) of fuel.
  
  The AC-7M uses a two bladed wooden propeller of 1.18 m (46 in) diameter. The 18 m (59.1 ft) span wing employs a Wortmann FX60-157 airfoil and mounts Fowler flaps. The wings are mounted on the fuselage with a single cam-pin and the ailerons and air brakes hook-up automatically. The fixed landing gear consists of a narrow track pair of rubber-suspended 360 mm (14.2 in) main wheels, a 310 mm (12.2 in) nose wheel and a 200 mm (7.9 in) tail caster. The main wheels incorporate lever-actuated drum brakes. The cockpit can accommodate pilots up to 190 cm (74.8 in) in height. The canopy provides 300° field of view and is jettisonable. Assembly from its trailer takes four people 20 minutes.
  
  The AC-7M was later developed into the unpowered and redesigned AC-7.
  
  ## Variants
  
  ### AC-7M
  
      Side-by-side, two seat motor glider with a retractable Hirth F30A25A 77.2 kW (104 hp) two stroke engine.
  
  ### AC-7K
  
      Development of the AC-7M, but with a fuselage-mounted Rotax 912ULS 73.5 kW (99 hp) four stroke engine, driving a retractable 1.18 m (46 in) diameter, two bladed wooden propeller.
  
  ## Specifications (AC-7M)
  
  Data from Company
  
  General characteristics
  
  * Crew: one
  * Capacity: one passenger
  * Length: 7.15 m (23 ft 5 in)
  * Wingspan: 18 m (59 ft 1 in)
  * Height: 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
  * Wing area: 13.5 $m^2$ (145 sq ft)
  * Aspect ratio: 24:1
  * Empty weight: 490 kg (1,080 lb)
  * Gross weight: 680 kg (1,499 lb)
  * Powerplant: 1 × Hirth F30A25A , 77.2 kW (103.5 hp)
  * Propellers: 2-bladed, 1.180 m (3 ft 10 in) diameter
  
  Performance
  
  * Cruise speed: 180 km/h (110 mph, 97 kn)
  * Stall speed: 74 km/h (46 mph, 40 kn)
  * Never exceed speed: 220 km/h (140 mph, 120 kn)
  * Range: 1,800 km (1,100 mi, 970 nmi)
  * g limits: +5.3/-2.65
  * Maximum glide ratio: 38:1 at 105 km/h (65 mph)
  * Rate of climb: 4.5 m/s (890 ft/min)
  * Rate of sink: 0.8 m/s (160 ft/min) at 110 km/h (68 mph)
  * Wing loading: 50 $kg/m^2$ (10 lb/sq ft)
  