AEA Explorer
Aero Engineers Australia · Australia · first flew 1998 · light aircraft
The AEA Explorer is an Australian single-engined utility monoplane built to sit between the Cessna 206 and Cessna Caravan in carrying capacity.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Strut-braced high wing over a boxy fuselage, sized between a Cessna 206 and Caravan |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Strut-braced high wing over a boxy fuselage, sized between a Cessna 206 and Caravan
- Tricycle gear that retracts into distinctive under-fuselage sponsons rather than the wings
- Squared-off cabin windows along a straight-sided fuselage
Distinguish it from a Cessna Caravan or 206 by its under-fuselage sponsons, which house the retracted main gear instead of the usual wing or nose location.
Specifications
- The AEA Explorer has a length of 9.68 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.43 m (47 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 380 km/h (236 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by Aero Engineers Australia and first flown on 23 January 1998, the Explorer is a strut-braced high-wing design with retractable tricycle gear that folds into distinctive under-fuselage sponsons rather than the wings or engine nacelle. Production rights passed to the US-based Explorer Aircraft company in 1999.
Variants
A turboprop-powered 500T version followed the original piston Explorer, and a stretched 750T version was later offered.
Where you'll see it
There was never any series production: a single airframe, first flown on 23 January 1998, was re-engined as the 500T turboprop prototype in 2000 and later flew with an Orenda V8, and it is now US-registered.
Related aircraft
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