The Sadler Vampire is back!
May 19, 2008 by Paul Richfield, Senior EditorSadler Aircraft, a newly-formed company in Roseburg, Oregon, plans to produce an LSA version of the Sadler Vampire, a 1980s ultralight design that remains a cult classic in the U.S. and in Australia.
While the original Vampires were Rotax-powered single-seaters, the new design will feature side-by-side seating for two, and a 65-hp Rotomax rotary engine driving a pusher prop. Flyaway price is $79,900, and a 120-hp engine will also be available, according to David Littlejohn, head of Sadler Aircraft.
“We’re now considering whether to go ahead with a high performance version, with 450-hp Chevy V-8,” he says. “This would be based on the Piranha, a combat variant that Bill Sadler designed for Turkish Aerospace in 1997. It had unbelievable performance-it could climb almost straight up at 4,000 feet per minute.”
Low slung and menacing, the Vampire shares its basic configuration with the de Havilland Vampire, an early British jet fighter. And despite being classified as an “ultralight,” the single-seat Vampire was a maneuverable performer stressed for plus or minus 6Gs.
Rights to the Vampire changed hands more than once over the years, and the design has found its most ardent supporters in Australia. Ken Garland and his company, Aero V Australia, hold the Type Acceptance Certificate for the single-seat model.
May 21st, 2008 at 5:18 pm
This sounds like a fine aircraft from both a performance and price basis. I would like to hear more about it.
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:32 am
I’ve been looking for a trailerable, garage storable airplane for quite a while! This is beautiful! Thank YOU!
Is this the same aircraft that was displayed at OSH in 1983?
Is there a kit or plans built version available?
Who makes the current engine?
May 26th, 2009 at 12:47 am
Unfortunate that they aren’t considering producing a FAR 103 Ultralight version.
June 4th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
An outstanding aircraft with an equally outstanding price tag. No matter how Vampire tries to juggle their numbers an asking price of $93,000 is a lot of money and far out of reach for the bulk of sport pilots.
Do the math, feed a hundred thousand dollars into any LSA classified website and see what comes up. Granted owning an exotic looking aircraft with fine performance specs is tempting but a hard knock on the chin just to belong to an exclusive club.
July 20th, 2012 at 11:43 am
HI im new can you help me i love the vampire im haveing troble finding info can you help me any info on the one setter will be great kit price and full bild thank you very much michael fowler
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