Extra EA-300
The Extra Flugzeugbau EA300 is a two-seat aerobatic monoplane capable of Unlimited category competition. It was designed in 1987 by Walter Extra, an award-winning German aerobatic pilot and built by Extra Flugzeugbau.
Design and development
Design of the Extra 300 was based on the Extra 230, an early 1980s monoplane having a wing made of wood. The Extra 300 has a welded steel tube fuselage covered in aluminium and fabric. The mid-set wing has a carbon fiber composite spar and carbon composite skins.[1] A symmetrical airfoil, mounted with a zero angle of incidence, provides equal performance in both upright and inverted flight. The landing gear is fixed taildragger style with composite main legs and fiberglass wheel pants. The powerplant is a fuel-injected Lycoming AEIO-540 which produces 300 horsepower (224 kW).
The first two-seat Extra 300 made its maiden flight on 6 May 1988, with German type certification following on 16 May 1990. The single seat Extra 300S flew on 4 March 1992.[1]
The Extra 300 is stressed for ±10 G with one person on board and ±8 G with two. Some Extra 300s are certificated in the Experimental Category in the U.S., while others are certificated in the Aerobatic category.[2]
Variants
- 300
- Original two-seat version.[3]
- 300S
- The 300S is a single-seat version, with a wingspan reduced by 50 cm (19½ in), and fitted with larger ailerons. [1][3]
- 330SX
- The Extra 330SX was a custom development of the 300S with a wider-chord rudder a larger elevator, and a more powerful Lycoming AEIO-580 powerplant producing 330 hp (246 kW). Some 300Ss were sold with the "bigger tail" of the 330SX. The 330SX was later replaced by the 330SC.
- 300SP
- The 300SP is a performance version of the 300S single-seater. Weight was reduced, and the tail of the 330SX installed.[4] It is discontinued, being replaced by the 330SC.
- 300SHP
- The 300SHP (HP=High performance) is an uncertified version of the 300SP with an AEIO-580 engine.
- 300SR
- The Extra 300SR is a modified aircraft using a specially designed high-lift wing for the Red Bull Air Race World Series. It made promising debuts in July 2007, but has yet to challenge the dominance of the Zivko Edge 540.
- 300L
- The Extra 300L is a Lycoming AEIO-540 powered two-seat aircraft, with low mounted wing and shorter fuselage.[3] More Extra 300L ("L" is a 2 seater version) aircraft have been produced than any other model. Its wing is mounted at the bottom of the fuselage, with its span reduced from 26 ft 3 in (8.00 m) to 24 ft 3 in (7.39 m). Improved ailerons boost the 300L's roll rate to 400 degrees per second. All 300Ls are fully certified under FAA and European Joint Aviation Authorities regulations.
- 300LP
- The 300LP ("P" for performance) is a reduced weight version of the 300L, re-designed for better performance in competitions and airshows.
- 330SC
- The Extra 330SC is a Lycoming AEIO-580 powered single place aircraft with improved roll rate and easier roll stops, designed specifically for Unlimited category competition. It is actually the only single seater aerobatic aircraft built by Extra.
- 330LX
- The Extra 330LX is a Lycoming AEIO-580 powered two-seat aircraft.
- 330LT
- The Extra 330LT is a Lycoming AEIO-580 powered two-seat aircraft, adapted for touring. It has an EFIS cockpit and a reduced roll rate in comparison with the 330LX.
Operators
Civilian
- The Blades private aerobatic team display at air shows in Britain using a team of four Extra 300LPs. They offer passenger flights to members of the public and aerobatic training for pilots.[5]
- An Extra 300 owned and flown by Chuck Coleman was one of the official chase planes of Burt Rutan's SpaceShipOne and Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer (during flight test).
- Patty Wagstaff has flown the Extra 230, 260 and various models of the 300 in aerobatic competitions and airshows since the mid-1980s.[6]
- Northern Lights Aerobatics Team (later as Northern Lights Combat Air Support and now Lortie Aviation Inc.) from Canada flew 5 Extra EA300s from 1994 to 2000[7]
- Finnish Aviation Academy has one aircraft in operation for Upset Recovery Training.
Military operators
- Chilean Air Force - The Escuadrilla de Alta Acrobacia Halcones ("Chilean Air force High Aerobatics Squadron, called "Hawks") uses the 300L variant since 2003.
- Royal Jordanian Air Force
- The Royal Jordanian Falcons, the aerobatic demonstration team of Royal Jordanian Airlines and the official national aerobatic team of Jordan, perform in a formation of four Extra 300s.
- The newly announced Kris Sakti, the Royal Malaysian Air Force aerobatic demonstration team, will perform in a formation of Extra 300s, and will make its debut in 2011 Langkawi International Maritime and Air Show.
Specifications (EA-300L)
Data from Extra Aircraft's EA-300L page
General characteristics
- Crew: one pilot
- Capacity: two
- Length: 6.95 m (22 ft 9½ in)
- Wingspan: 7.39 m (24 ft 3 in)
- Height: 2.62 m (8 ft 7¼ in)
- Wing area: 10.44 m² (112.4 ft²)
- Airfoil: symmetrical (no camber), zero incidence, zero dihedral/anhedral
- Empty weight: 682 kg (approx.) (1,500 lb (approx.))
- Loaded weight: 952 kg (2095 lb)
- Useful load: 270 kg (595 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 952 kg (2095 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5 MT Propeller composite propeller (3- or 4-blade), 224 kW (300 hp)
- Fuel capacity: 52.7 U.S. gal (199.5 l)
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 408 km/h (220 knot, 253 mph)
- Cruise speed: 317 km/h (170 knot, 196 mph)
- Stall speed: 102 km/h (55 knot, 63 mph)
- Range: 944 km with auxiliary fuel (510 nmi, 586 statute mi)
- Service ceiling: 4875 m (16,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 16 meters/s (3200 ft/min)
- Roll Rate : 400 degrees per second
See also
- Related development
- Extra 200
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- CAP Aviation CAP-232
- MX Aircraft MX2
- Sukhoi Su-26
- Sukhoi Su-29
- Sukhoi Su-31
- XtremeAir Sbach 342 (XA 42)
- Zivko Edge 540
- Zlín Z-50
References
- Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lambert 1993, p. 100.
- ↑ Wagstaff, Patty (2009). "Ask the Expert". Retrieved 2009-01-03.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Taylor 1999, p. 426.
- ↑ Extra Aircraft (2009). "EA-300SP". Archived from the original on 2008-07-08. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
- ↑ The Blades official website.
- ↑ "Biography – Patty Wagstaff". p. 1. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
- ↑ http://www.sky-flash.com/Display_teams/Northern_Lights/index.html
- Bibliography
- Lambert, Mark. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–94. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Data Division, 1993. ISBN 0-7106-1066-1.
- Taylor, Michael. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London:Brassey's, 1999. 1 85753 245 7.
External links
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