Photograph:
Ekolet KR-030 Topaz 24-8660 (c/n 30-06-08) at Avalon, VIC on 3 March 2017 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Poland
Description:
Two-seat training and sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 60 kw (80 hp) Rotax 912UL four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-and-liquid-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.76 m (35 ft 4 in)
- Length: 5.7 m (18 ft 7 in)
- Height: 2.25 m (7 ft 4 in)
- Wing area: 10.124 m² (110.2 sq ft)
- Max speed: 220 km/h (137 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power: 200 km/h (124 mph)
- Cruising speed at 50% power: 180 km/h (112 mph)
- Stalling speed: 65 km/h (40 mph)
- Rate of climb: 366 m/min (1,200 ft/min)
- Fuel capacity: 70 litres (15 Imp gals)
- Max range: 1,200 km (746 miles)
- Empty weight: 290 kg (639 lb)
- Loaded weight: 472 kg (1,042 lb)
History:
The Ekolet KR-030 Topaz was one of a series of light aircraft developed in Poland for the light aircraft market, being a development of the JK-05L Junior. It was developed to comply with Federation Aeronautique Internationale microlight rules and had a high wing, seate two side-by-side, had an enclosed cockpit and had a fixed tricycle undercarriage. The fuel tanks were located behind the seats and a ballistic parachute was available as an option. Standard engine was the 60 kw (80 hp) Rotax 912UL.
The aircraft was unveiled for the first time in the United States at the 2010 Midwest LSA Expo. The manufacturer had some experience with design and construction. The type was distributed by Aerosports at Sunbury, VIC, the first two examples arriving in October 2013, one being sold to a private operator and the other to be used by the importer for training and as a demonstrator at its Airsports Flying School. Since then a number of examples have been imported.