title: Avian Cheetah
text: # Avian Cheetah
  
  The Avian Cheetah is a British high-wing, single-place, competition hang glider, designed by Steve Elkins and Neil Hammerton and produced by Avian Limited of Hope Valley, Derbyshire.
  
  ## Design and development
  
  The Cheetah is a development of the Avian Java and is a "topless" design without a kingpost or top wire rigging, although it retains the lower flying wires.
  
  The current production Cheetah 150 model is made from aluminum and carbon fibre tubing, with the wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 10.4 m (34.1 ft) span wing has a nose angle of 130deg; and an aspect ratio of 7.5:1. The acceptable pilot hook-in weight is 80 to 110 kg (180 to 240 lb).
  
  The glider can be broken down to a 37 kg (82 lb) package, 4.6 m (15.1 ft) in length for ground transportation on a car top.
  
  ## Variants
  
  ### Cheetah 150
  
      Current production version. British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association certified.
  
  ### Cheetah 160
  
      Version offered circa 2003 with 10.4 m (34.1 ft) span wing, with an area of 15 $m^2$ (160 sq ft), a nose angle of 125° and an aspect ratio of 7.0:1.
  
  ## Specifications (Cheetah 150)
  
  Data from Avian
  
  General characteristics
  
  * Crew: one
  * Wingspan: 10.4 m (34 ft 1 in) with tip fairings
  * Wing area: 14.5 $m^2$ (156 sq ft)
  * Aspect ratio: 7.5:1
  * Empty weight: 35 kg (77 lb) rigged ready for flight
  * Gross weight: 145 kg (320 lb)
  
  Performance
  
  * Stall speed: 24 km/h (15 mph, 13 kn)
  * Never exceed speed: 113 km/h (70 mph, 61 kn) in smooth air
  * Maximum glide ratio: 15.3:1 (depending on the harness used)
  * Rate of sink: 0.86 m/s (169 ft/min)
  