Light Aircraft Made by Brazilian Students Beats World Records

09/09/2015 - 09h50

On August 21, at the Santa Cruz airbase in Rio de Janeiro, the sport plane Anequim beat five world speed records for planes of up to 500kg, reaching a speed of 521km/h.

The plane weighs 330kg and it was developed by students at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), under the supervision of professor of aeronautical engineering Paulo Henriques Iscold, 39.

Anequim beat the American plane Neemesis DR 90, which since the 1990s has been considered the most successful plane in the history of air competitions. It is exhibited in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington.

As in automotive competitions, the innovations used in the planes are subsequently incorporated by the industry.

Anequim, named after a ferocious species of shark, is the first Brazilian plane constructed entirely from carbon fiber. In terms of aerodynamics, the challenge was to produce an ultra-light plane rigid enough to withstand high speed.

Light, and with great rigidity, Anequim has highly efficient aerodynamics and can reach a speed similar to that of the Embraer Phenom, at sea level, despite only having a simple piston motor.

Without any government subsidies or any other public money, Anequim was funded entirely by enthusiasts, who contributed money, materials and parts.

The plane's main financial backer was its pilot, Gunar Armin Halboth, formerly of the airline Varig and Brazilian aerobatics champion.

Neither Halboth nor Iscold would divulge the total cost of the project.

Translated by TOM GATEHOUSE

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	Raphael Brescia
	Anequim is the first Brazilian plane constructed entirely from carbon fiber