The Freedom S100 Amphibian

Evolution

The Freedom is the latest version of Colyaer’s tested family of aircraft. Manufactured in Pontevedra, Spain, the Colyear family shares identical airframes with strut-free, cantilevered wings. The Martin is a land-based, tricycle geared pusher. The Gannet is a pure seaplane. The Freedom introduces a sturdy, electrically-actuated, repositionable landing gear that quickly converts the airplane for land or water operations.

Made of carbon fiber, Nomex, Kevlar and stainless steel, the Freedom is engineered for conditions ranging from rough fields to saltwater, carrying pilot and passenger in comfort and safety. Features of the Freedom include:

• 2-seat, dual controls
• Rotax 912 ULS 100 hp engine
• Strut-free, cantilevered wing
• Electrically-actuated repositionable landing gear
• Carbon fiber strut free wings
• 3 bouyancy compartments
• Electric flaps and trim
• Superior visibility
• High wing & T-tail, both removable
• Water rudder

Overview

The Freedom is a side-by-side 2-seater amphibious special light sport aircraft (SLSA) with dual controls and:

• Cantilevered strutless wing for reduced drag and clean lines.
• Remarkable visibility.
• The T-shape tail and high wing ensure that the control surfaces are far enough from the water to avoid interference from splashing.
• Spacious cabin with great visibility makes this aircraft ideal for coast-guarding activity, aerial photography, life-saving, etc.
• The programmable Flap Control (5 points) means the ability to operate with angles from -5º (cruise) to +50º (airbrake).
• SAFETY: High glide rate (20:1) and low stall speed (70 Km/h).
• FREEDOM: The Freedom gives you the chance to explore places previously inaccessible.
• CONFIDENCE: With the Freedom you will be able to experience the real pleasures of flying as you will feel confident operating over both water and land.
• CONVENIENCE: The aircraft can be assembled and disassembled in 45 minutes by 2 people and transported on a trailer thus making it possible to use it anywhere.

Construction

The Freedom is built entirely from composite materials (carbon, kevlar, glass...) except for a few metallic components made in stainless steel AISI 316 and aluminium 6082 T6. These materials offer long-life, low maintenance and safety even when operating in salt water.

The fuselage is made from Carbon and Kevlar, with a reinforced hull, which absorbs the impact of landing on water and offers greater safety. Carbon and Kevlar provide resistance and rigidity, indispensable for operating in water, and also guarantee a long life for the aircraft.

The hull of the Freedom is divided into 3 independent compartments, with access registers, which guarantee the buoyancy of the aircraft in case of any perforation caused during impact on the water.

The water rudder operates in synchronization with the regular steering without having to be retracted as its position does not interfere with landing and take-off procedures nor decrease the aerodynamics. Its size and position give the Freedom maximum maneuverability in the water.

The floats are made from Carbon and Kevlar which means they are very resistant to impact. Their aerodynamic design minimizes both resistance in the air and in water while securing maximum buoyancy. The distance between the floats and the water during take-off and landing is almost 18 inches. There is no contact with the water ensuring maximum safety during these maneuvers

Engine

The engine is integrated into the fuselage, improving the aesthetics of the aircraft and optimizing aerodynamic performance and stability. The standard engine for airplanes sold in America is the four cylinder, four stroke, water-cooled Rotax 912 ULS. The Rotax is lightweight, powerful, well-proven and reliably flown all over the world.

Rotax is a subsidiary of Bombardier Recreational Products and the world's leading supplier of aircraft engines for light aircraft.

The 912 ULS produces 100 peak horsepower at 5800 rpm and 95 horsepower at 5500 rpm in continuous operation, and burns 92 octane unleaded auto fuel or 100LL aviation fuel. Cylinder heads are liquid-cooled, utilizing an oversized radiator, to increase operating efficiency and allow optimum power extraction under all operating conditions.

Propeller

An optional reversible propeller facilitates maneuvers in and out of docking area. For sport pilot applications the airplane is sold with a ground-adjustable rudder.

Landing Gear

The repositionable landing gear is operated by an electric system with stainless steel actuators, which, is completely separate and independent for each wheel. The mechanism has detectors that indicate the opening and closing position of the wheels on the control panel - guaranteeing complete safety during landing. Additionally the main landing gear has a locking system which guarantees that the wheels are closed during landing and take-off on water.

When not in use, the landing gear folds into the fuselage where it can be stored without interfering with the aerodynamics of the aircraft.

The design of the nose wheel allows it to be steered by the rudder pedals, which remain unlocked when the landing gear is closed and operate when the landing gear is open to steer on land.

The hydraulic breaking system operates simultaneously on both wheels of the landing gear. Made from high quality stainless steel AISI 316 and anodic aluminium 6082 T6, which ensure strong resistance against salt corrosion.

The landing gear storage compartment is equipped with a series of tubes which allow any water collected during take-off to be dispersed quickly.

Specifications

Take-off on water is stable from the first moments due to the generous control surfaces. The V-shaped hull allows the aircraft to operate in open waters lessening the impact on the hull.