De Bernardi M.d.B. 02 Aeroscooter

The De Bernardi M.d.B. 02 Aeroscooter is a two seat light sport aircraft designed by Mario De Bernardi as a follow on to the single seat Partenavia P.53 Aeroscooter.

Development

De Bernardi developed the all metal single seat Partenavia Aeroscooter earlier. Seeking to improve the design, the M.d.B. 02 Aeroscooter was developed as a two seat aircraft to be built by CAP in Bergamo, Italy.^[1]

Design

The Aeroscooter is a low-wing, two seat, monoplane. The partial welded steel tube fuselage uses aluminum skins. The wing uses a wood spar. The tricycle landing gear uses trailing link suspension. The single piece plexiglas canopy slides forward to open. All fuel is housed in the 20 l (5.28 US gal; 4.40 imp gal) header tank and 50 l (13.21 US gal; 11.00 imp gal) main tank behind the passengers seat.

Operational history

The prototype was built by De Bernardi with the assistance of two mechanics. In April 1959, De Bernardi died of a heart attack after flying a demonstration of the prototype at Rome Urbe Airport.^[1]

An example is on display at Museo Aeronautico Caproni di Taledo, Milano.^[2]

Variants

The daughter of De Bernardi is offering plans for a modernized version of the Aeroscooter using a Rotax 912UL engine to be flown under Italian microlight category.^[3]

Specifications (M.d.B. 02 Aeroscooter)

Data from Sport Aviation

General characteristics

• Capacity: 2
• Length: 5.4 m (17 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 9.4 m (30 ft 10 in)
• Height: 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)
• Empty weight: 480 kg (1,058 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 70 l (18.49 US gal; 15.40 imp gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Walter Mikron III , 54 kW (72 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 210 km/h (130 mph; 113 kn)
• Cruising speed: 190 km/h (118 mph; 103 kn)
• Stall speed: 50 km/h (31 mph; 27 kn)
• Range: 600 km (373 mi; 324 nmi)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Erco Ercoupe

References