Frontier MD-II
| MD-II | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Homebuilt aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Frontier Aircraft Inc |
| Introduction | 1990s |
| Status | Production completed |
| Number built | 2 |
| Unit cost |
US$19,500 (kit, 1998) |
The Frontier MD-II was an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed and produced by Frontier Aircraft Inc of Vail, Colorado, introduced in 1990s. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1]
Design and development
The MD-II featured a strut-braced high-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit accessed via doors, fixed conventional landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in tractor configuration.[1]
The aircraft was fabricated from 2024-T3 aluminum sheet. Its 29.50 ft (9.0 m) span wing employed a USA 35B airfoil, mounted flaps and had a wing area of 177.0 sq ft (16.44 m2). The cabin width was 41 in (100 cm). The acceptable power range was 65 to 200 hp (48 to 149 kW) and the standard powerplant used was the 140 hp (104 kW) Avia M 332 (LOM) four cylinder, inverted, air-cooled, supercharged, inline aircraft engine.[1]
With the Avia engine the MD-II had a typical empty weight of 1,150 lb (520 kg) and a gross weight of 2,000 lb (910 kg), giving a useful load of 850 lb (390 kg). With full fuel of 43 U.S. gallons (160 L; 36 imp gal) the payload for pilot, passenger and baggage was 592 lb (269 kg).[1]
The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied kit as 1500 hours.[1]
Operational history
By 1998 the company reported that two kits had been sold and two aircraft were completed and flying.[1]
In December 2013 no examples were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration and it is unlikely that any exist any more.[2]
Specifications (MD-II)
Data from AeroCrafter[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Length: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
- Wingspan: 29 ft 6 in (8.99 m)
- Wing area: 177.0 sq ft (16.44 m2)
- Airfoil: USA 35B
- Empty weight: 1,150 lb (522 kg)
- Gross weight: 2,000 lb (907 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 43 U.S. gallons (160 L; 36 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Avia M 332 four cylinder, inverted, air-cooled, supercharged, inline aircraft engine, 140 hp (100 kW)
- Propellers: single blade metal
Performance
- Maximum speed: 184 mph (296 km/h; 160 kn)
- Cruise speed: 140 mph (122 kn; 225 km/h)
- Stall speed: 30 mph (26 kn; 48 km/h) flaps down
- Range: 690 mi (600 nmi; 1,110 km)
- Service ceiling: 16,000 ft (4,877 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,200 ft/min (6.1 m/s)
- Wing loading: 11.3 lb/sq ft (55 kg/m2)
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 167. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
- ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (28 December 2013). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved 28 December 2013.