Photograph:
SD Planes SD-1 Minisport ZK-DDM (c/n 105) at North Shore aerodrome in September 2016 (Keith Morris – NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
Czech Republic
Description:
Single-seat light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 21 kw (28 hp) Hirth F-33 AS single-cylinder, carburetted, dual CDI air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 6 m (19 ft 7 in)
- Length: 4.35 m (14 ft 3 in)
- Height: 1.23 m (4 ft)
- Wing area: 6 m² (64.6 sq ft)
- Max manoeuvring speed: 156 km/h (98 mph)
- Cruising speed: 155 km/h (97 mph)
- Max level speed: 190 km/h (119 mph)
- Never exceed speed: 210 km/h (131 mph)
- Rate of climb: 183 m/min (600 ft/min)
- Stalling speed, no flaps: 78 km/h (49 mph)
- Stalling speed, with flaps: 63 km/h (39 mph)
- Fuel capacity: 28 litres (6 Imp gals)
- Fuel capacity: [34 litres – 7.5 Imp gals optional]
- Empty weight: 110 kg (245 lb)
- Payload: 130 kg (289 lb)
- Loaded weight: 240 kg (533 lb)
History:
The SD-1 is a light single-seat sporting monoplane designed by Igor Spacek and built in the Czech Republic by Spacek SRO at Hodonin. The design philosophy was to keep the weight as low as possible whilst providing good performance and handling suitable for a low-time pilot. Construction is of wood and composites and parts are built in a fully automated process. The ribs of the wing and the tail are built from extruded polystyrene, the aircraft then being covered with plywood, and composites are used on the complex shapes. The aircraft is designed to meet both the FAI UL and LSAQ Regulations, and the German 120 kg (265 lb) category. Variants include the TG, TD-XL and TG-XL. It may be built with a tricycle undercarriage or tailwheel.
A variety of engines could be installed ranging from 16 to 37 kw (22 to 50 hp). The prototype was fitted with a Trabant auto conversion with a propeller fitted directly on to the crankshaft. Other early aircraft were fitted with Hirth F-33 AS, Hirth F-23, Briggs & Stratton Vanguard of 18 kw (24 hp) and Verner JCV-360 engines, and many units in the 18 to 37 kw (24 to 50 hp) range have been installed. More recent aircraft completed have Rotax 447, Hirth 2702, MZ-201, Simonini Victor I and two-cylinder Volkswagen conversion engines.
In Australia the Minisport basic and quick-build kits are distributed by SD Planes Australia, and it could also be obtained as a ready-to-fly aircraft. An example fitted with a Kohler CH18-CH750 engine was registered as 19-8441 (c/n 107) with the RAA on 20 November 2013.
An example has been completed in New Zealand, becoming ZK-DDM (c/n 105) to its owner at Albany on 22 January 2016. This aircraft is powered by a Verner JCV-360 two-cylinder four-stroke engine of 360 cc which weighs 30 kg (67 lb). A reduction belt drive is fitted and the engine produces 26 kw (35 hp) at 7,800 rpm. Another has been built at the North Shore aerodrome north of Auckland.