Fly Synthesis model range: Syncro, Texan, Storch, Catalina NG and Wallaby compared
Fly Synthesis has built its range around a simple ladder: from an open-air kit machine for pure summer flying to a retractable-gear cruiser and an amphibian for water work. All of them share the same DNA — composite construction, two seats, side-by-side cabins and handling tuned for pilots who fly for pleasure. Here is how the five families compare, with the factory's own published data where available.
| Model | Configuration | Engine | MTOW | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Wallaby 582 | Open airframe, high wing | Rotax 582 | ULM class | Pure open-air flying, easy kit build |
| Storch CL / HS / S | High wing, braced | Rotax / Jabiru options | ULM class | Short strips, training, touring |
| Catalina NG | Amphibian, high wing | Rotax 582 DCDI (64 HP) | 495 kg | Water and land operations |
| Texan (Club / 600 / Top Class / RG) | Low wing, composite | Rotax 912 / 914, Jabiru 2200 | up to 600 kg (LSA) | Fast touring, schools, clubs |
| Syncro | Low wing, flagship | Rotax 912 ULS | 472.5 kg | Speed and aerodynamic refinement |
Syncro: the fastest
The Syncro is the range's aerodynamic flagship — a low-wing two-seater with organic, fluid shapes and a wide, quiet cabin. Factory data list a 10.4 m span, an empty weight of 289 kg in ULM configuration and a never-exceed speed of 295 km/h. With a stall speed of 64 km/h and a 1,200 km endurance with a 30-minute reserve, it combines genuine cross-country legs with docile low-speed manners. Test-flight data with a 100 HP Rotax 912 showed a climb rate above 1,000 ft/min and 272 km/h at 5,500 rpm.
Texan and Storch: the core
The Texan is the advanced low-wing all-rounder, offered from the school-friendly Club to the retractable-gear RG; the 600 version was designed specifically for the 600 kg light-sport category. The Storch is the high-wing classic, with full-span flaperons on the CL and HS versions and separate electric flaps on the S — the choice for short strips and panoramic flying.
Catalina NG and Wallaby: the specialists
| Catalina NG — key data | Value |
|---|---|
| Length / span | 6.28 m / 9.47 m |
| Empty weight / MTOW | 292 kg / 495 kg |
| Take-off run (land / sea) | 100 m / 190 m |
| Landing run (land / sea) | 75 m / 75 m |
| Cruise / VNE | 125 km/h / 150 km/h |
| Fuel consumption at 75% | 18 l/h |
The Catalina NG is the family's amphibian, with folding wings and an optional airframe parachute — a 75-metre water landing run makes almost any calm bay a runway. At the opposite extreme, the New Wallaby 582 strips flying back to its essentials: an open cockpit, a Rotax 582 and an easy-build kit that the Italian press called the "facile" kit. Between the five families, the range covers nearly every mission in recreational aviation — the question is not which Fly Synthesis is best, but which kind of flying you want to do.