The Swedish Speed Monster

While appreciating the joy of a slow, leisurely flight over beautiful countryside, most pilots also are powerfully motivated by the dream of a speedy aircraft. Going fast has magical appeal.

No surprise, then, that a successful record attempt by a European light aircraft proved popular as pilots follow shelter-in-place orders.

During this coronavirus scare, Sweden has been in the news because authorities did not fully lock down the Scandinavian country. Some closures were recommended and certain folks (older, immune-deficient…you’ve heard all this repeatedly) were encouraged to self-isolate. Yet pictures show restaurants, streets, and other public venues with plenty of people. Sweden has had deaths, of course, each and every one of them tragic.

However, the greater freedom enjoyed by younger, healthier Swedes allowed an impressive flight in the middle of April 2020.

Speed Monster: Blackwing

Last year at my favorite airshow in Europe — AERO Friedrichshafen — I could not pass a supersleek blue and black low wing from Sweden, my father’s ancestral home.

A stunning work of aviation art, Blackwing caught my eye and that of everyone else. That made taking pictures of the airplane without people surrounding it difficult.

Founded in 2011, Blackwing Sweden AB made its worldwide debut at Aero 2015. This drop-dead gorgeous design from the Scandinavian country impressed everyone, as well as its CEO, Niklas Anderberg who, with his ready smile, wonderful command of English, and Scandinavian blond hair, stood out almost as much as his airplane.

When he wasn’t answering a million questions, we snuck in a short conversation where he told me the sign on his display backdrop stating “200 Knots TAS” was not mere bragging. He said they would do it.

OK, I accepted his statement, captured a few more photos when people let me have a view, and moved on to other attractions at the show.

This year, Niklas proved he is both a man of his word and intimately knowledgeable about his design.

On April 15, 2020, Blackwing released the following news: “Yesterday, flight history was written…in Sweden! The country’s pride, Blackwing, has always had high ambitions and, in addition, achieved the proof that the aircraft is really out of the ordinary. It was proven when the previous world record for top speed was completely pulverized — Blackwing reached a staggering 393.4 kilometers per hour (approximately 212 knots) as an average speed on a 15 kilometer (9.3 mile) stretch, flying in both directions.”

“That’s just over 60 kilometers per hour (about 32 knots) more than the previous record,” reported a very enthused Niklas.

Not only did Niklas and the Blackwing team best the previous record, they also challenged the record for a closed circuit of 50 kilometers (31 miles) and, “the old record was beaten, by far.”

Blackwing achieved an average speed of 352.9 kilometers per hour (approximately 192 knots), which is almost 70 kilometers per hour (38 knots) faster than the previous record. Usually, records are beaten by small margins, but Niklas blew right past the old mark.

The aircraft was a BW 600RG with a Rotax 915iS, the big Austrian company’s newest fuel-injected, turbocharged, and intercooler-equipped powerplant.

“The combination of airframe and potent engine may well be described as a ‘speed monster,’” company officials said.

Onboard for the record attempt were Niklas and Fredrik Lanz, founder and co-worker at Blackwing.

“On Tuesday, April 14, weather conditions were excellent in Landskrona (towards the south of Sweden) to try to set a world record,” Niklas said. “We flew in cold air, which made the conditions of 10,000 feet for our turbocharged Blackwing 600 RG almost optimal.”

While laying claim to two new world records, to gain proper recognition of their achievement, the performance must now be checked and approved by Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).

The new records will surely help this fairly new company, as it prepares for production and global sales.

“Flight days and exhibitions have been canceled due to the coronavirus where our goal has been to get orders for BW 600RG,” noted Niklas. “We hope that the attention around these world records can aid incoming orders.”

You may enjoy Niklas’ final comment when I sought confirmation and asked additional questions: “We had a Glasair III as a chase plane with 340 horsepower. It needed full throttle to keep up!”

The Rotax 915iS powering the Blackwing outputs 141 horsepower.

Speed Records, Old and New

For the official record in Class UL aircraft RAL2T (Movable Aerodynamic Control/Landplane/Flown with two persons/Thermal Engine), previously recognized record holders include:

• Current speed record over a closed circuit of 50 km: Dec. 15, 2019, 283.62 kilometers per hour, pilot Alberto Rodolfo Porto (Italy) with crew Elisa Tomasi (Italy), aircraft Risen
• New (pending) record: April 14, 2020, 348 kilometers per hour; pilot Niklas Anderberg (Sweden) with crew Fredrik Lanz (Sweden)
• Current speed over a straight course (15 km): Dec. 15, 2019, 330.45 kilometers per hour pilot, Alberto Rodolfo Porto (Italy) with crew Elisa Tomasi (Italy), aircraft Risen
• New (pending) record April 14, 2020: 377 kilometers per hour, pilot Niklas Anderberg (Sweden) with crew Fredrik Lanz (Sweden)

To qualify for officially-recognized FAI records, a series of requirements must be met, including sealed instrumentation accessed only by an official observer. The Swedish Flygsportförbundet (Air Sports League) is the national representative to FAI. All records seeking recognition must be submitted in this way.