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Extra EA-300

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EA300
Extra 300L
General information
TypeAerobatic monoplane
National originGermany
ManufacturerExtra Flugzeugbau
Designer
StatusActive
History
Manufactured1988-present
First flightMay 1988

The Extra Flugzeugbau EA300 is a two-seat aerobatic monoplane capable of Unlimited category competition. It was designed in 1987 by Walter Extra, a German aerobatic pilot, and built by Extra Flugzeugbau.

Design and development

Design of the Extra 300 was based on the Extra 230, an early 1980s monoplane having a wing made of wood. The Extra 300 has a welded steel tube fuselage covered in aluminium and fabric. The midset wing has a carbon fiber composite spar and carbon composite skins.[1] A symmetrical airfoil, mounted with a zero angle of incidence, provides equal performance in both upright and inverted flight. The landing gear is fixed taildragger style with composite main legs and fiberglass wheel pants. The powerplant is a fuel-injected Lycoming AEIO-540 which produces 300 horsepower (224 kW).

The first two-seat Extra 300 made its maiden flight on 6 May 1988, with German type certification following on 16 May 1990. The single-seat Extra 300S flew on 4 March 1992.[1]

The Extra 300 is stressed for ±10 G with one person on board and ±8 G with two. Some Extra 300s are registered in the experimental category under a Special Certificate of Airworthiness in the U.S., while others are type certified in the aerobatic category.[2]

An Extra 300L flying near Perth, Western Australia
An Extra 300S belonging to Patty Wagstaff: This image shows well the zero-incidence and zero-dihedral wing, used rarely but useful in an aerobatic aircraft.
The wing of the Extra 300L is set lower on the fuselage
An Extra 300 of the Royal Jordanian Falcons display team taxis for takeoff.
The Northern Lights in formation

Variants

300
Original two-seat version[3]
300S
The 300S is a single-seat version, with a wingspan reduced by 50 cm (19+1⁄2 in), and fitted with larger ailerons.[1][3]
300SP
The 300SP is a performance version of the 300S single-seater. Weight was reduced, and the tail of the 330SX installed.[4] It is discontinued, being replaced by the 330SC.
300SHP
The 300SHP (HP = high performance) is an uncertified version of the 300SP with a Lycoming AEIO-580 engine.
300SR
The Extra 300SR is a modified aircraft using a specially designed high-lift wing for the Red Bull Air Race World Series.
300L
The Extra 300L is a Lycoming AEIO-540-powered two-seat aircraft, with low-mounted wing and shorter fuselage.[3] More of these two-seater variants have been produced than any other model. Its wing is mounted at the bottom of the fuselage, with its span reduced from 26 to 24 ft (7.9 to 7.3 m). Improved ailerons boost the 300L's roll rate to 400° per second. All 300Ls are fully certified under FAA and European Joint Aviation Authorities regulations.
300LP
The 300LP (P = performance) is a reduced-weight version of the 300L, redesigned for better performance in competitions and airshows.
330LX
The Extra 330LX is a Lycoming AEIO-580-powered two-seat aircraft.
330LT
The Extra 330LT is a Lycoming AEIO-580 powered two-seat aircraft, adapted for touring. It has an EFIS cockpit and a reduced roll rate in comparison with the 330LX.
330LE
The Extra 330LE is a one-seat aircraft powered by an electric engine made by Siemens, delivering 260 kW, for 50 kg. On Thursday, March 23, 2017, the Extra 330LE set two new speed records, said Siemens : "At the Dinslaken Schwarze Heide airfield in Germany, the electric aircraft reached a top speed of around 340 kilometers per hour (km/h) over a distance of three kilometers. On Friday, March 24, 2017, the Extra 330LE gave another premiere performance by becoming the world's first electric aircraft to tow a glider into the sky".[5]
330SC
The Extra 330SC is a Lycoming AEIO-580-powered single-seat aircraft with improved roll rate and easier roll stops, designed specifically for unlimited category competition.
330SX
A development of the 330SC that was first flown in early July 2023, with first deliveries scheduled for 2024. Powered by a Lycoming AEIO-580 engine, it has one seat with a wider cockpit, shorter fuselage, a redesigned cowling, improved control stick clearance and increased headroom over the 330SC.[6]

Operators

Civilian

  • Aviation Performance Solutions is the largest user of Extra 300Ls, with a fleet of eight aircraft used for upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT) in the United States at its bases in Mesa, Arizona and Arlington, Texas.[7][8]
  • The Blades private aerobatic team displays at air shows in Britain using a team of four Extra 300LPs. It offers passenger flights to members of the public and aerobatic training for pilots.[9]
  • Patty Wagstaff has flown the Extra 230, 260, and various models of the 300 in aerobatic competitions and airshows since the mid-1980s.[10]
  • Aeroclubul României [ro] operates eight Extra 300 aircraft, of which three are SC versions and five are L versions.[11][12] They are mainly used for aerobatic flights under the Hawks of Romania team name at various public events.

Military operators

 Chile
  • Chilean Air Force - The Escuadrilla de Alta Acrobacia Halcones ("Chilean Air force High Aerobatics Squadron, called "Hawks") has used the 300L variant since 2003.
 France
 Jordan
 Malaysia

Specifications (EA-330LT)

Data from EXTRA 330LT[13]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1 or 2
  • Length: 7.01 m (23 ft 0 in)
  • Wingspan: 8 m (26 ft 3 in)
  • Height: 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)
  • Wing area: 10.84 m2 (116.7 sq ft)
  • Airfoil: root: MA 15S ; tip: MA 12S[14]
  • Empty weight: 677 kg (1,493 lb) typ. equipped
  • Gross weight: 950 kg (2,094 lb) normal category (+6/-3g)
  • Max takeoff weight: 820 kg (1,808 lb) single-pilot acro (+10/-10g)
  • Fuel capacity: 209 L / 55,2 gal (usable)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming AEIO-580-B1A 6-cylinder air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine, 235 kW (315 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed Muehlbauer MTV 9-B-C/C198-25

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 380 km/h (236 mph, 205 kn) TAS
  • Stall speed: 110 km/h (69 mph, 60 kn) at 820 kg / 1,808 lbs
  • Never exceed speed: 410 km/h (250 mph, 220 kn)
  • g limits: +10/-10g at 820 kg / 1,808 lbs

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

Notes
  1. ^ a b c Lambert 1993, p. 100.
  2. ^ Wagstaff, Patty (2009). "Ask the Expert". Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
  3. ^ a b c Taylor 1999, p. 426.
  4. ^ "EA-300SP". Extra Aircraft. 2009. Archived from the original on 8 July 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
  5. ^ "World-record electric motor for aircraft sets new records - Siemens Global Website". Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  6. ^ O'Connor, Kate (10 July 2023). "Extra Unveils 330SX". AVweb. Archived from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  7. ^ Huber, Mark (2 November 2016). "Bombardier Teams with APS on Upset Recovery Course". Aviation International News. Archived from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Aviation Performance Solutions LLC | International Aerobatic Club". www.iac.org. International Aerobatic Club. Archived from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  9. ^ The Blades Archived 2009-04-10 at the Wayback Machine official website.
  10. ^ "Biography – Patty Wagstaff". p. 1. Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 28 February 2009.
  11. ^ Autoritatea Aeronautică Civilă Română (19 July 2021). "Operatori Aerieni Români Certificaţi/Autorizaţi" (PDF). caa.ro. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  12. ^ "Aeroclubul Romaniei".
  13. ^ "EXTRA 330LT". Extra Flugzeugproduktions - und Vertriebs - GmbH.
  14. ^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
Bibliography
  • Lambert, Mark. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–94. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Data Division, 1993. ISBN 0-7106-1066-1.
  • Taylor, Michael. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London:Brassey's, 1999. 1 85753 245 7.
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