Edgley Aircraft Limited
Optica
The Optica is a distinctive low‑wing, single‑engine aircraft produced by Edgley Aircraft Limited, a small British manufacturer founded in the early 1970s. Development began in 1975 with the goal of creating a purpose‑built observation platform for police, coastguard, and agricultural patrols. Its first flight took place on 12 July 1979 and the type entered limited production in 1981, with only ten airframes completed before the company ceased operations in the mid‑1990s.
Key features set the Optica apart from conventional light aircraft. A fully glazed, bubble‑shaped cockpit provides unobstructed 360‑degree visibility, while the fuselage incorporates a fixed, low‑drag, tricycle undercarriage and a Lycoming O‑360‑A1A engine delivering 180 hp. The aircraft’s high‑aspect‑ratio wing, fitted with Fowler flaps, offers exceptional low‑speed handling and short‑takeoff performance, enabling safe operation from rough fields and sea‑level airstrips. An optional optical sensor suite can be installed for surveillance or environmental monitoring.
The Optica’s significance lies in its pioneering focus on visual observation capability, foreshadowing later specialist surveillance platforms. Although production numbers were small, the design demonstrated how a dedicated airframe could enhance mission effectiveness for civil and rescue services, influencing subsequent utility‑type aircraft concepts.
Key features set the Optica apart from conventional light aircraft. A fully glazed, bubble‑shaped cockpit provides unobstructed 360‑degree visibility, while the fuselage incorporates a fixed, low‑drag, tricycle undercarriage and a Lycoming O‑360‑A1A engine delivering 180 hp. The aircraft’s high‑aspect‑ratio wing, fitted with Fowler flaps, offers exceptional low‑speed handling and short‑takeoff performance, enabling safe operation from rough fields and sea‑level airstrips. An optional optical sensor suite can be installed for surveillance or environmental monitoring.
The Optica’s significance lies in its pioneering focus on visual observation capability, foreshadowing later specialist surveillance platforms. Although production numbers were small, the design demonstrated how a dedicated airframe could enhance mission effectiveness for civil and rescue services, influencing subsequent utility‑type aircraft concepts.
Dimensions
- Wing Area
- 15.84 square metre
- Length
- 8.15 metre
- Height
- 2.31 metre
- Mass
- 948 kilogram
Performance
- Maximum Speed
- 58 knot
- Service Ceiling
- 4275 metre
- Range
- 1056 kilometre
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 22
- First Flight
- 1979
- Service Entry
- 1985
Design & Classification
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- Edgley Aircraft Limited
- Engine
- IO-540
- Wikidata ID
- Q256476