Photograph:
First Atec 321 Faeta in Australia 24-8279 (c/n F770912A) at Temora, NSW in March 2013 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Czech Republic
Description:
Two-seat light touring and training monoplane
Power Plant:
One 75 kw (100 hp) Rotax 912ULS four-cylinder horizontally-opposed liquid-and-air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)
- Length: 6.25 m (20 ft 4 in)
- Height: 2.1 m (6 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 10.1 m² (109 sq ft)
- Never exceed speed: 275 km/h (171 mph)
- Max speed: 249 km/h (155 mph)
- Cruising speed: 227 km/h (141 mph)
- Stalling speed: 52 km/h (32 mph)
- Rate of climb: 427 m/min (1,400 ft/min)
- Fuel capacity: 70 litres (15 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 278 kg (613 lb)
- Payload: 172 kg (379 lb)
- Loaded weight: 472 kg (1,042 lb)
History:
The Atec 321 Faeta was designed in the Czech Republic as an ultralight and light sport aircraft. It was produced at the Company’s facility at Libice Cidlinou in the Czech Republic. It was developed from the earlier Atec Zephyr series and was supplied as a complete ready-to-fly aircraft. It was aimed at complying with the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) microlight rules and US light sport aircraft (LSA) rules. It was a two-seat aircraft with a side-by-side configuration in an enclosed cockpit with a bubble canopy and a tricycle undercarriage.
The Faeta has been described as an advanced, aerodynamically-controlled machine, its shape being similar to the earlier model but having a completely different wing structure, having a carbon fibre wing built around a wooden spar to increase performance, a new wing plan-form and profile which enhanced cruise performance, reduced fuel consumption and increased manoeuvrability. Flaps provided assistance at low speeds and the use of carbon composites and sandwich structures using Nomex honeycomb reduced the weight of the aircraft. Normal fuel capacity was 70 litres (15 Imp gals) but optional tanks to increase fuel capacity to 100 litres (22 Imp gals) were available, increasing range to 1,600 km (994 miles).
The series became popular in Europe, being used by flying clubs and for towing gliders. Standard engine was the 75 kw (100 hp) Rotax 912ULS. By 2011 a new model had been released, becoming known as the Atec 321 Faeta NG [New Generation] being a development of the earlier design.
One of the first examples of the 321 Faeta registered in Australia was 24-8279 (c/n F770912A) on 21 January 2013, followed by a 321 Faeta NG which became 23-2321 under RAA Regulations.