Photograph:
Alpi Aviation Pioneer 200 24-5003 (c/n 145) at Narromine, NSW (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Italy
Description:
Two-seat light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 60 kw (80 hp) Rotax 912UL four-cylinder, four-stroke, liquid-and-air-cooled dual-carburetted electronic dual-ignition engine
Specifications:
-
- Wingspan: 7.65 m (25 ft)
- Length: 6.09 m (20 ft)Weight: 1.52 m (5 ft)
- Wing area: 10.21 m² (110 sq ft)
- Max speed: 177 km/h (110 mph)
- Cruising speed: 161 km/h (100 mph)
- Max rate of climb: 304 m/min (1,000 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 3,962 m (13,000 ft)
- Range: 926 km (575 miles)
- Empty weight: 275 kg (606 lb)
- Loaded weight: 500 kg (992 lb)
History:
The Pioneer series of light sport aircraft has been produced in kit form in Italy by Alpi Aviation at its plant at La Comina airfield near Pordenone in Italy. Classified as a microlight in most countries, in the Model 200 series it usually has been fitted with a 60 kw (80 hp) Rotax 912UL engine with a Tonini propeller and a fixed undercarriage. However, in the Model 300 it has been fitted with a 75 kw (100 hp) Rotax 912S engine and had an all-up weight of 500 kg (1,102 lb), a cruising speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), an electrically-operated retractable undercarriage and an Idrovario constant-speed propeller. This model has been capable of aerobatics and loops can could be entered from straight and level flight. It has also been approved to take the 90 kw (120 hp) Jabiru six-cylinder engine.
The Model 200 has been described as ‘the ultimate club trainer’, with a fuel capacity of 53 litres (11.65 Imp gals). Seating in both variants has been for two, and construction has been of wood with fabric covering. The type has become popular and examples have been exported all around the world.
First examples of the type seen in this region were imported into New Zealand in late 2002 by the importers, Alpi Aviation Ltd of Onerahi in Northland, NZ. Two models were imported and both were registered on 13 August 2002, these being a Pioneer 200 ZK-LPI (c/n NZ100-1) and a Pioneer 300 ZK-SHL (c/n SG100-053). Further examples have since been imported.