Photograph:
Alpi Aviation Pioneer 300 19-4659 (c/n 115) at Narromine, NSW (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Italy
Description:
Two-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 60 kw (80 hp) Rotax 912 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed liquid-and-air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.1 m (26 ft 6 in)
- Length: 6.25 m (20 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 11 m² (118.4 sq ft)
- Max speed: 270 km/h (168 mph)
- Max cruising speed: 250 km/h (155 mph)
- Stalling speed: 60 km/h (37 mph)
- Rate of climb: 457 m/min (1,500 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 5,000 m (16,404 ft)
- Range at 75% power: 1,000 km (621 miles)
- Empty weight: 285 kg (628 lb)
- Loaded weight: 450 kg (992 lb)
History:
The Pioneer 300 was one of a series of light touring and training aircraft produced by Alpi Aviation in San Quirino, Italy, the 300 being a two-seater with an electrically-operated retractable undercarriage. Construction was of wood with plywood, and fabric covered wings. It had the ability to cruise at up to 250 km/h (155 mph) and was able to operate from short strips, take-off distance being 150 m (492 ft).
It was produced in kit form, the kits containing all parts needed for construction apart from engine and accessories, instruments, propeller and interior fittings, which could be supplied by the manufacturer to meet personal requirements. One variant of the kit was produced for the United Kingdom market, this being changed slightly to meet British licensing requirements.
A variety of engines was available, including the Rotax 912 units of 60 kw (80 hp) and 75 kw (100 hp); Rotax 914 DCDI of 86 kw (115 hp) unit; 90 kw (120 hp) Jabiru 3300 six-cylinder unit; 60 kw (80 hp) Jabiru 2200 four-cylinder unit; and the 82 kw (110 hp) Midwest Wankel unit, driving two or three-blade constant speed propellers.
A number have been imported to this region, examples completed both in New Zealand and Australia being fitted with the Australian-built 90 kw (120 hp) Jabiru 3300 engine, this providing a maximum cruising speed of 259 km/h (161 mph) using 20 litres (4.4 Imp gals) of fuel per hour. One became known as the Jay Hawk, this being a variant built by Mr C Johnston of Hastings (ZK-CWJ) which had a number of changes, including to the undercarriage.
The Asso Champion V (see separte article) was a light aircraft of wood construction with fabric covering and was basically a variant of the Pioneer 300 designed by Guiseppe Vidor, the first of this model completed in this region becoming ZK-OSC in early 2011 .
In 2018 a new variant of the Model 300 was released, known as the P.300 Griffon with improved aerodynamics, a wider cabin interior, larger canopy, integrated avionics, and a retractable undercarriage, which could be fitted with the Rotax 915 engine as an option.
First example of this model registered in this part of the world arrived in 2019 and became ZK-SJL (c/n 400), being fitted with the Rotax 915 engine.