Velocity XL

The Velocity XL (XL: Extra Large) is an American amateur-built aircraft, produced by Velocity, Inc.. It is an enlarged version of their Velocity SE canard pusher design.

Design and development

The Velocity XL is 12 in (310 mm) longer and has a 20 in (510 mm) greater span than the SE. The standard XL is powered by either a Lycoming IO-540 of 260 to 300 hp (194 to 224 kW) engine or a Continental IO-550 310 hp (231 kW) and has a cruising range of 875 nautical miles (1,620 km; 1,007 mi) and a 75% power cruising speed of 185 knots (213 mph; 343 km/h) air speed.

The XL is available in both fixed gear (FG) and retractable gear (RG) form and can accommodate either three or four passengers plus a pilot. The five seat versions, the XL-5 and the TXL-RG-5, have a rear bench seat for three rather than the alternative separate pair.

Variants

Rocket Racers

The Rocket Racing League is utilizing a highly modified Velocity XL FG airframe and an Armadillo Aerospace 2,500 pound thrust liquid oxygen (LOX) and ethanol rocket engine in both its Mark-II X-Racer and Mark-III X-Racer demonstration vehicles. The Mark-II utilizes a standard fixed-gear Velocity XL airframe, modified for the addition of rocket propulsion. The Mark-III airframe was more extensively customized during manufacture explicitly for rocket racer use, with canopy top, center seat and control stick, and other enhancements in addition to the rocket propulsion added to the Mark-II.