The Preceptor Stinger is an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed and produced by Preceptor Aircraft of Rutherfordton, North Carolina. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as plans or as a kit for amateur construction.^[1][2]

The company appears to have gone out of business in 2012 and production curtailed.^[3]

The Stinger is a development of the Preceptor N3 Pup. It features a strut-braced parasol wing, a single-seat, open cockpit, fixed conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.^[1]

The aircraft is made from welded steel tubing covered in doped aircraft fabric. Its 30.5 ft (9.3 m) span wing is the same as used on the Pup and has a wing area of 122.0 sq ft (11.33 m²). The wing is supported by cabane struts and "V" struts, with jury struts. The cockpit width is 22.8 in (58 cm). The acceptable power range is 35 to 50 hp (26 to 37 kW) and the standard engine used is the 50 hp (37 kW) Volkswagen 1600cc, four cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke automotive conversion powerplant. The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off with a 50 hp (37 kW) engine is 100 ft (30 m) and the landing roll is 150 ft (46 m).^[1][2]

The aircraft has a typical empty weight of 400 lb (180 kg) and a gross weight of 660 lb (300 kg), giving a useful load of 260 lb (120 kg). With full fuel of 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal) the payload for the pilot and baggage is 200 lb (91 kg).^[2]

The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied kit as 450 hours and the cost to complete the aircraft at US$22,000-26,000 in 2011.^[2]

By 1998 the company reported that three kits had been sold and one aircraft had been completed and was flying.^[1] By 2011 the company reported that two were flying.^[2]

Data from AeroCrafter and Kitplanes^[1][2]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Length: 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m)
• Wingspan: 30 ft 6 in (9.30 m)
• Wing area: 122.0 sq ft (11.33 m²)
• Empty weight: 400 lb (181 kg)
• Gross weight: 660 lb (299 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Volkswagen air-cooled engine 1600cc, four cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke automotive conversion engine, 50 hp (37 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed wooden fixed pitch

Performance

• Cruise speed: 80 mph (130 km/h, 70 kn)
• Stall speed: 35 mph (56 km/h, 30 kn)
• Range: 300 mi (480 km, 260 nmi)
• Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)
• Wing loading: 4.5 lb/sq ft (22 kg/m²)

• Photo of a Stinger