View source for Advanced Aviation Explorer

<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name=Explorer
 |image=
 |caption=
 |type=[[Ultralight aviation|Ultralight]] [[homebuilt aircraft]]
 |national_origin=[[United States]]
 |manufacturer=[[Advanced Aviation]]
 |designer=
 |first_flight=1990s
 |introduction=
 |retired=
 |status=In production (Toucan)
 |primary_user=
 |more_users=
 |produced=
 |number_built=
 |developed_from= [[Maxair Drifter]]<br />[[Sport Flight Talon]]
 |variants=
}}
The '''Advanced Aviation Explorer''' is a two-seat [[ultralight]] marketed in kit form, for [[homebuilt aircraft|amateur construction]]. It is a high-wing [[Conventional landing gear|taildragger]] aircraft of [[pusher configuration]] with tandem seating.<ref name="Cliche">Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page B-109. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2007">Downey, Julia: ''2008 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 37. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2004">Downey, Julia: ''2005 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 21, Number 12, December 2004, page 42. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2003">Newby-Gonzalez, Tori: ''2004 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 20, Number 12, December 2003, page 37. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2001">Downey, Julia: ''2002 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 18, Number 12, December 2001, page 21. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2000">Downey, Julia: ''2001 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 12, December 2000, page 29. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec1998">Downey, Julia: ''1999 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 37. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="Aerocrafter">Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter – Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', page 117. BAI Communications. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}</ref>

==Design and development==
The aircraft is a development of the [[Talon XP]] which in turn traces its lineage to the [[Maxair Drifter]]. The Explorer has been produced by a number of companies and under a variety of names.<ref name="Cliche" />

The main advance over the Drifter is the Explorer's use of main wing [[strut]]s and [[jury strut]]s in place of cable bracing. Like all aircraft in this family they feature excellent visibility, especially from the front seat when the optional [[fibreglass]] cockpit pod is removed. As a result, the design is often employed as a [[Aerial photography|camera platform]]. It can be flown on floats and has been used for banner towing.<ref name="Cliche" />

Construction is of bolted [[aluminium]] tube, with the flying surfaces covered in pre-sewn [[Dacron]] envelopes. The kit takes about 150–250 hours to assemble.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2007" />

The standard engine is the [[Rotax 582]] of {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}, with the four-stroke {{convert|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 912]] optional.<ref name="Cliche" />

==Variants==
;Explorer
:Initial version, derived from the [[Talon XP]], but with struts in place of the cable-braced wing. Produced by [[Advanced Aviation]], no longer in production.<ref name="Cliche" />
;Zephyr
:Similar to the Explorer, but produced by [[Arnet Pereyra Inc]], no longer in production. Also known as the ''Zephyr II'', 40 reported flying in 1998/2001.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2001" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2000" /><ref name="KitplanesDec1998" /><ref name="Aerocrafter" />
;Toucan
:New name for the aircraft when manufacturer Arnet Pereyra changed the company name to [[Aero Adventure Aviation]], powered by a [[Rotax 582]] of {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}. In production, with 10 flying at the end of 2011.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2007" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2004" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2003" /><ref name="ToucanHome">{{Cite web|url=http://www.aeroadventureinc.com/Product%20Line/Toucan.html |title=Toucan |accessdate=15 February 2011 |last=Aero Adventure Aviation |author-link=Aero Adventure Aviation |date=n.d. |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707092105/http://www.aeroadventureinc.com/Product%20Line/Toucan.html |archivedate=7 July 2011 }}</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2011">Vandermeullen, Richard: ''2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide'', Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 37. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref>
;Barracuda
:Aero Adventure Aviation produced version powered by the {{convert|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 912]], {{convert|1250|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} gross weight, optimized for amphibious floats. Out of production, with 1 flying at the end of 2007.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2007" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2004" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2003" /><ref name="ToucanHome"/>

==Specifications (Toucan) ==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Cliche<ref name="Cliche" />
|prime units?=imp<!-- imp or kts first for US aircraft, and UK aircraft pre-metrification, met(ric) first for all others. You MUST choose a format, or no specifications will show -->
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=one passenger
|length m=
|length ft=22
|length in=6
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=29
|span in=8
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=7
|height in=0
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=156
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- give where relevant eg sailplanes  -->
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=480
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=1050
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity=12 US gallons (45 litres)
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=[[Rotax 582]]
|eng1 name=
|eng1 type=
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp=64<!-- prop engines -->
|prop blade number=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop name=
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop note=

<!--
        Performance
-->
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=90
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=73
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=33
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=200
|range nmi=
|range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=14000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=1100
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{Aircontent
|related=
*[[Lockwood Aircam]]
|similar aircraft=
|lists=
|see also=
}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110707092105/http://www.aeroadventureinc.com/Product%20Line/Toucan.html Official Aero Adventure Toucan website]

{{Advanced Aviation aircraft}}
{{Aero Adventure aircraft}}

[[Category:Homebuilt aircraft]]
[[Category:1990s United States ultralight aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft]]
[[Category:Advanced Aviation aircraft|Explorer]]
[[Category:Aero Adventure aircraft|Toucan]]