Advanced Aeromarine Sierra

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English Template:Infobox aircraft The Advanced Aeromarine Sierra was an American high-wing, strut-braced, single-seat, glider that was designed and produced by Advanced Aeromarine, as a kit for amateur construction.<ref name="Aerocrafter">Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 300. BAI Communications. Template:ISBN</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec1998">Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 31. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref>

Design and development

The Sierra was intended as a lightweight and affordable glider with modest performance that could be launched by ultralight aircraft aerotow, auto-tow, winch-launch or bungee launch. It first flew in March 1991.<ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="KitplanesDec1998" />

The aircraft was made from aluminium tube, fabric and composites. Its Template:Convert span wing was supported by a lift strut and jury struts. The glide ratio was 25:1 and had a landing roll of Template:Convert. The landing gear was tandem wheels, plus a tail caster. The completion time from the factory kit was rated as 150 hours.<ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="KitplanesDec1998" />

Although very light, with a standard empty weight of Template:Convert, the Sierra did not qualify under the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles regulations as a hang glider, neither was it foot-launchable. Only one prototype had been reported as completed by December 1998.<ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="KitplanesDec1998" />

Operational history

In September 2011 there were no Sierras registered with the US Federal Aviation Administration and it is likely that none exist anymore.<ref name="FAAReg">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref>

Variants

Sierra LS

Main production version<ref name="Aerocrafter" />