TYPE: Two-seat kitbuilt twin.
PROGRAMME: Initially designed as camera platform for National Geographic magazine and first flew 1994. Redesigned as a kit and made public debut at Sun 'n' Fun 1996. First float-equipped version made initial flight 9 June 1999.
CUSTOMERS: More than 125 kits sold by mid-2003; over 40 flying by early 2001. Export destinations include Australia, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
COSTS: US$52,435 including Rotax 582 engines; US$74,290 with Rotax 912 S engines (2003).
DESIGN FEATURES: Configured for slow flight. Strut- and wire-braced wings and mid-mounted tailplane wire-braced to tall, narrow-chord fin. Quoted build time 800 hours.
FLYING CONTROLS: Conventional and manual. Full-width in-flight-adjustable trim tab on elevator, Pushrod-actuated ailerons taper at tips. Electric flaps.
STRUCTURE: All-metal monocoque fuselage with glass fibre cockpit enclosure. Constant chord, swept-tip wings of 6061-T6 aluminium tubing with aluminium spars and ribs, and fabric covering. Low-drag wing struts. Tailfin has glass fibre fillet and fabric-covered rudder and elevator with metal trim tab.
LANDING GEAR: Tailwheel type; fixed. Spring steel mainwheel legs; differential hydraulic disc brakes and 6.00-6 in tyres. Maule steerable tailwheel. Full Lotus floats optional.
POWER PLANT: Two 47.8 kW (64.1 hp) Rotax 582s or two 73.5 kW (98.6 hp) Rotax 912 ULSs or mounted above wings, driving three-blade ground-adjustable Warp Drive pusher propellers. Optionally two 85.8 kW (115 hp) turbocharged Rotax 914s can be fitted. Fuel in two wing-mounted aluminium tanks, total capacity 106 litres (28.0 US gallons; 23.3 Imp gallons).
ACCOMMODATION: Pilot and passenger/observer in tandem seats within open cockpit. Lexan windshield. Dual controls. Open baggage compartment behind second seat.
AVIONICS: To customer's specification. Options include Terra TX 760D COM, TRT 250D transponder.
EQUIPMENT: Fire extinguisher standard.