Photograph:
Flyitalia MD-3 Rider ZK-MDT (c/n 31) at Omaka, NZ in April 2007 (Peter Lewis – NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
Czech Republic
Description:
Two-seat light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 80 kw (100 hp) Rotax 912S four-cylinder horizontally-opposed liquid-and-air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9 m (29 ft 6 in)
- Length: 5.9 m (19 ft 4 in)
- Height: 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
- Wing area: 9.9 m² (106.56 sq ft)
- Max speed: 275 km/h (167 mph)
- Max cruising speed: 210 km/h (140 mph)
- Stalling speed: 82 km/h (51 mph)
- Stalling speed with flaps: 62 km/h (38 mph)
- Max rate of climb: 360 m/min (1,180 ft/min)
- G-limits: +4/-2
- Empty weight: 297 kg (655 lb)
- Useful load: 278 kg (612 lb)
- Payload weight with full fuel: 207 kg (456 lb)
- Loaded weight: 576 kg (1,267 lb)
History:
The Flyitalia MD-3 Rider was designed by Jaroslav Postal, the prototype [OK-JUR-06] being flown at Kunovice in the Czech Republic on 25 February 2004, being followed by the first production aircraft [OK-JUR-17] on 7 August that year. The third aircraft built was used for static testing, Czechoslovakian certification being received on 31 May 2006.
Production commenced at Gelnice, assembly to take place at Pibram, but was moved to Italy soon thereafter. It was initially produced in two variants, the UL with a 60 kw (80 hp) Rotax 912 engine, and the Sport with the 80 kw (100 hp) Rotax 912S engine.
The aircraft, designed in the Czech Republic, was marketed by Flyitalia in Italy and was of all-metal construction with a welded steel tube fuselage. It was of semi-monocoque design, bonded and riveted from aluminium alloy parts, with composite construction for the engine cowling and fairings, the doors being of carbon fibre. Fuel was housed in integral wing tanks, the wing being able to be folded as a factory option. It had electric flaps, electric elevator trim and hydraulic disc brakes. It was designed to meet light sport aircraft (LSA) regulations, and received United States LSA certification in 2011. It had a tricycle undercarriage and dual controls.
To date one example has been registered in this region, this aircraft becoming ZK-MDT (c/n 031 – ex I-8453) on 7 December 2006 to Aerosport Aviation Ltd of Cambridge, New Zealand and was based at Waikato. In April 2007 it was sold to Gentle Properties Ltd of Cambridge, and in February 2010 ownership was transferred to Arnold GP Ltd of Cambridge. In March 2012 it was registered to the MDT Syndicate of Mercer.