View source for Best Off Skyranger

{{Short description|Aircraft}}
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{{for|the wheeled anti-aircraft systems|Skyranger 30|Skyranger 35}}
{{Infobox aircraft
  |name = Skyranger <!--please avoid stating manufacturer in this field; it's stated three lines below -->
  |logo = <!--ONLY for an individual logo of the aircraft model, (NOT the main manufacturer logo)-->
  |image = BestOffAviationSkyrangerC-ICBD02.jpg<!--in the ''image:filename'' format, no image tags-->
  |caption = Best Off Aviation Skyranger on skis at [[Montebello, Quebec]] 2005<!--image caption; if it isn't descriptive it should be left blank-->
  |type = [[Ultralight aircraft]]
  |manufacturer = [[Best Off|Best Off Aviation]]
  |designer = <!--only appropriate for single designers, not project leaders-->
  |first_flight = <!--if it hasn't happened, leave it out!-->
  |introduction = 1990<!--date the aircraft entered or will enter military or revenue service-->
  |retired = <!--date the aircraft left military or revenue service. If vague or multiples, it probably should be skipped-->
  |status = <!--in most cases, this field is redundant; use it sparingly-->
  |primary_user = <!--please list only one user – for military aircraft, the user is a nation or a service arm. 
                  Do NOT add those tiny flags as they limit horizontal space.-->
  |more_users = <!--limited to three "more users" total; please separate with <br/>-->
  |produced = <!--years in production, e.g. 1970-1999, if still in active use but no longer built-->
  |number_built = about 900
  |program cost= <!-- total program cost. -->
  |unit cost = <!-- incremental or flyaway cost for military aircraft or retail price for commercial aircraft. -->
  |developed_from = <!-- the aircraft which formed the basis for the topic type -->
  |variants = [[Best Off Nynja]]<br />[[Rainbow Cheetah]]<br />[[Synairgie Jet Ranger]]
}}

[[File:BestOffAviationSkyrangerN816402.jpg|thumb|Best Off Aviation Skyranger being tied down at [[Sun 'n Fun]] 2006]]

[[File:Skyranger cockpit.jpg|thumb|Skyranger cockpit with optional extended panel]]

The '''Best Off Skyranger''' (also '''Sky Ranger''', '''SkyRanger''') is a [[France|French]]-designed two-seat [[Ultralight aviation|ultralight]] utility aircraft, produced by [[Best Off]], of [[Toulouse]]. It is a high-wing conventional [[monoplane]] with tricycle [[Landing gear|undercarriage]], and of [[Aircraft fabric covering|fabric-covered]] tubular construction.<ref name="JAWA03 p118" /><ref name="WDLA11">Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 33. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X</ref>

The Skyranger is also manufactured under licence by [[Aero Bravo]] in [[Brazil]], [[SkyRanger Aircraft]] in the [[United States]] (as a [[Homebuilt aircraft|kit]]), [[Aeros]] in [[Ukraine]] and at least 150 were built by [[Synairgie]] in France, too.<ref name="Aerocrafter">Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition'', page 265. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}</ref> Because of the aircraft being manufactured by many companies, names such as '''Aeros Skyranger''', '''Synairgie Skyranger''' etc. are used for the aircraft.

Some 900 are flying throughout the world.<ref name="JAWA03 p118" />

==Variants==
;Skyranger
:Original model, introduced 1990.<ref name="WDLA11" />
;Skyranger Vfun
:Renamed original model for the [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] microlight class. Standard engines available are the {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 582]] [[two-stroke]], the {{convert|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 912UL]], the {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 912ULS]], {{convert|85|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Jabiru 2200]], the {{convert|60|to|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Volkswagen air-cooled engine|VW]] and the {{convert|60|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[HKS 700E]] [[four-stroke]] powerplants. The aircraft has also been equipped with the [[JLT Motors Ecoyota]] engine.<ref name="WDLA11" /><ref>{{cite web|url = http://ecoyota.neuf.fr/Page_1x.html/|title = Le Nouveau Moteur 4 Temps Pour Ulm|accessdate = 15 March 2018|author = JLT Motors|work = ecoyota.neuf.fr|year = 2007|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081014121101/http://ecoyota.neuf.fr/Page_1x.html/|archivedate = 14 October 2008|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref name="WDLA15">Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: ''World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16'', page 34. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}</ref>
;Skyranger Vmax
:Improved model for United Kingdom BCAR Section "S" certification, with ventral fin. Standard engines available are the {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 582]] two-stroke, the {{convert|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 912UL]], the {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 912ULS]], {{convert|85|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Jabiru 2200]], the {{convert|60|to|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Volkswagen air-cooled engine|VW]] and the {{convert|60|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[HKS 700E]] four-stroke powerplants.<ref name="WDLA11" /><ref name="WDLA15"/>
;Skyranger Swift
:Improved model based on the Vmax for the US [[light-sport aircraft]] market, with reduced wingspan.<ref name="Swift">{{cite web|url = http://www.bestoffaircraft.com/index.php/en/skyranger-swift|title = Skyranger Swift|accessdate = 12 May 2012|last = Best Off|author-link = Best Off|year = 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110903095358/http://www.bestoffaircraft.com/index.php/en/skyranger-swift|archive-date = 3 September 2011|url-status = dead}}</ref>
;Reusable Bomber Drones
:On 26 April 2024, 6 photos surfaced online, taken somewhere in Russia, which appeared to show a crashed Skyranger Swift 2 fitted with a single [[OFAB-100-120]] bomb. Along with other equipment to allow for it to become a “remotely piloted bomber”. Skyranger had been contacted and said it could be an existing aircraft or one built from a kit worth $55,000.00. Ukraine has previously modified a [[Aeroprakt A-22 Foxbat]] into a kamikaze drone.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.twz.com/news-features/ukraine-appears-to-be-using-light-planes-converted-into-reusable-bomber-drones|author= HOWARD ALTMAN |title = Ukraine Appears To Be Using Light Planes Converted Into Reusable Bomber Drones|website=TWZ |access-date = 28 April 2024|date= 26 April 2024}}</ref>

==Specifications (Skyranger)==
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=met
 
|ref=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004<ref name="JAWA03 p118">Jackson 2003, p. 118.</ref>
|crew= one pilot
|capacity= one passenger
|length m= 5.50  
|length ft=   
|length in=
|span m= 9.50  
|span ft= 
|span in= 
|height m= 2.00
|height ft=  
|height in=
|wing area sqm= 14.10  
|wing area sqft=  
|empty weight kg= 250  
|empty weight lb=  
|max takeoff weight kg= 560 
|max takeoff weight lb= 
|fuel capacity={{convert|50|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}} 
|eng1 name=[[Rotax 912]]UL
|eng1 type= [[flat-four]]
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 kw= 59.6 
|eng1 hp=  
|cruise speed kmh=150  
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed mph= 
|cruise speed note=(max cruise)
|never exceed speed kmh= 195 
|never exceed speed kts= 
|never exceed speed mph= 
|stall speed kmh= 64 
|stall speed kts= 
|stall speed mph= 
|stall speed note=(flaps down)
|climb rate ms= 
|climb rate ftmin=900
}}

==See also==

=== Comparable aircraft ===
* [[Ikarus C42]]
* [[Raj Hamsa X-Air "H" Hanuman]]

{{aircontent|
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|sequence=
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}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* Jackson, Paul. ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004''. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. {{ISBN|0-7106-2537-5}}.

==External links==
{{commons category|Best Off Skyranger}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120702014053/http://www.bestoffaircraft.com/ Official website]

{{Best Off aircraft}}
{{Aero Bravo aircraft}}
{{Aeros aircraft}}
{{Synairgie aircraft}}
{{Aero Synergie aircraft}}

[[Category:1990s French civil utility aircraft]]
[[Category:1990s French ultralight aircraft]]
[[Category:Best Off aircraft|Skyranger]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:High-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aero Bravo aircraft]]
[[Category:Aeros aircraft]]
[[Category:Aero Synergie aircraft]]
[[Category:Synairgie aircraft|Sky Ranger]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1990]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear]]
[[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]