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CAP-21DS "The Silver Chicken" is a homebuilt, experimental aircraft registered in Italy with tail number I-SIVM
and holding a "Special Certificate of Airworthiness" under Italian rules. The CoA was issued for the first time in 1983 and has been the first for an experimental airplane operating in Aerobatic category: for this reason the Silver Chicken in 2003 was awarded the "Special Prize to Career" of C.A.P. (Club Aviazione Popolare - Italian E.A.A. Chapter). The Silver Chicken is a single seater, aerobatic airplane specifically designed for international level competition. Its flight qualities turn her into a safe and healthy machine, easily flown by pilots which otherwise would be unable to manage such a high level of performance. Configuration is single engine, low wing, land based, fixed bicycle undercarriage with fiberglass main legs, and classical baseline.
Structure is totally wooden with Okoume-, 2mm plywood skin and reinforcement layer in bifilar-, 45° fiberglass added after construction to increase strength and withstand load factor up to +/-10g. Wing is wooden, single-longeron, box-shaped with reinforcement layer in bifilar-, 45° fiberglass, symmetrical V.16.F.D.M. profile, cantilever-mounted on fuselage with zero camber. This allows the airplane to fly upright and inverted with almost the same ease and performance. Ailerons span over the whole wing. Action is by pull-rods with "Spade"-type servo-winglets at half wingspan. As usual in high-performance, aerobatic airplanes, no flaps or lifting surfaces are installed. Tailplane has fixed stabilizer and moveable elevator, activated by pull-rod and with a trim surface controlled by cabin trim wheel and Bowden cable. Vertical fin is integrated in fuselage structure while rudder is operated by metal cables linked to pedals and guided by pulleys.
Engine is an Experimental AVCO-Lycoming AEIO-540K1A5, horizontal 6-cylinders, air-cooled, fuel-injected, supplying 300HP @ 2700RPM and moving a four-bladed, variable-pitch, wooden MT-Propeller type MTV 14-B-C. Engine is equipped with Christen inverted oil system, thus is able to fly indefinitely under negative g. Fuel systems includes a main, 43l central tank installed between cockpit and firewall; an auxiliary, 13l fuel tank under pilot's seat; and two 50l removable wingtip tanks. Total fuel capacity is 156,5l AVGAS-100LL. Fuel tank selection is operated through a main selector, installed in the cockpit on pilot's left, allowing to select main- or auxiliary fuel circuit; and an auxiliary fuel selector, mounted forward of the control stick, allowing to select left-, right wingtip or central fuel tank. Wingtip tanks, when installed, derate airplane to Normal Category.
Electrical 12V system is powered by a small sealed battery hosted behind pilot's seat for balance reasons. Charge is operated by a lightweight generator powered by engine through rear accessory gearbox. In Normal Category an auxiliary battery, housed in a purpose-built transport box including wall charger, is installed on board in cargo bay behind the pilot and locked with an aluminium rod. Auxiliary battery is connected to electrical system through airplane's auxiliary power socket, which is in the cockpit left of pilot's seat.
Cabin layout is rational and, even in such a limited available space offered by single-seat configuration, quite comfortable and ergonomically effective. Pilot's seat is inclined ca. 35° on the vertical to increase pilot's resistance to high-g. Pedals are high in the cockpit for the same reason. Considering choices imposed by aerobatic operations, pilot's position is comfortable even in long cross-country flights, thanks also to special shape of cushion, presenting an "enlighting" hole in the middle to ease pilot's weight in "strategic" locations. Thanks to degrading engine cowling's profile, forward visibility is excellent in any flight condition, including approach and landing which are usually critical on this subject in most aerobatic types. All controls, instruments, and levers are perfectly handy for pilot, and easily reachable even under extreme piloting conditions imposed by aerobatic flight. You may find more and thorough information in Technical Papers section.
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