The VUT100 Cobra airplane was designed with the highest care and regard for pilots´ needs. Beside the high performance and excellent flight features, significant importance was paid to pilots´ safety, superior cabin comfort, high aircraft durability, long service life and low operation and maintenance costs. The all metal structure was chosen as it meets the best in all these requirements. Modern duralumin alloys are the most-used material in general and commercial aviation today and is well-known for its outstanding strength and fatigue characteristics, structural stability and controllability, durability and low maintenance costs together with a very long service life.
The latest design software and optimization methods were used in the Cobra design. The result of this effort is a top quality, durable, safe and advanced all metal airframe, which is strong and at the same time very light.
The advantages of all metal structure bring value for pilots especially in the following areas of aircraft operation:
High durability and proven long service life
The all-metal anodised duralumin airframe provides high durability and a guaranteed long service life. Thanks to material stability all metal structures are durable and resistant to the external environment and unlike composite structures, are not susceptible to structural changes caused by UV radiation, high temperatures and other weather effects. Owning an all-metal airplane protects your investment for the future as long airplane service life helps to keep its price high on the second-hand market.
As the VUT100 Cobra was designed in top quality duralumin, the airplane offers a very long airframe service life based on 20,000 flight hours.
High safety for crew
Most aircraft accidents occur during two critical phases of flight: immediately after take-off or during landing manoeuvres, when the best parachute system cannot protect the crew of the airplane.
With respect to this fact we paid the highest attention to the structure of the cockpit and the result of this effort is a unique solution for the airplane floor structure, which can absorb crash energy and protect the airplane cockpit. The specially designed seats with ability to absorb impact energy and with the integrated safety retractor belts and head rests are part of the safety solutions parcel.
An all metal airframe has better crash characteristics, thanks to energy absorption by gradual breaking of the metal structure, whereas composite materials can break or fragment dangerously.
Easy and inexpensive maintenance
Resistibility and durability of an all-metal airframe together with well-thought airplane structure and easily accessible airplane parts/systems makes maintenance of the Cobra easy, with shortened times for service inspections. Repair of damage on all metal airplanes is less expensive than composite airplanes thanks to the possibility of simple replacement of damaged parts. Thanks to extended application of metal structures in aviation, qualified service centres with very fast, quality and inexpensive services are widely available.
Possibility of outdoor long-term parking
Durability and resistance to outdoor weather conditions of the metal structure enables long-term outdoor parking of the airplane without danger of structure damage due to solar radiation or adverse weather conditions. This is very attractive especially in the areas with sunny and hot weather climates, where considerable hangaring costs can be saved.