Direct Fly Alto
{{Short description|Czech light aircraft}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Alto | image=DirectFlyAlto100.jpg | caption=Alto 100 }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Light sport aircraft | national origin=Czech Republic | manufacturer=Direct Fly s.r.o. | designer= | first flight= | introduced=2008 | retired= | status=In production | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=41 (2015) | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Direct Fly Alto ({{langx|en|High}}) is a Czech ultralight and light-sport aircraft, designed and produced by Direct Fly sro of Hluk. The aircraft is supplied as a standard or quick-build kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 40. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485XTacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 42. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}{{cite web|title=Direct Fly s.r.o.|url=http://www.directfly.cz/index.php?lang=en|accessdate=9 September 2012}}
Design and development
The aircraft was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight class and US light-sport aircraft rules. It features a cantilever low-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit, fixed tricycle landing gear or optionally conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.
The aircraft is constructed from aluminum sheet, with a wing that has a span of {{convert|8.10|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} and an area of {{convert|10.14|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}. Standard engines available are the {{convert|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 912UL, the {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 912ULS and the {{convert|120|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Jabiru 3300 four-stroke powerplants.
A Magnum 501 rocket powered parachute system is under development for the aircraft.{{cite journal|journal=Czech Aviation 2012|title=Alto|page=10}}{{cite web|title=Plane and Pilot directory|url=http://www.planeandpilotmag.com/aircraft/international-aircraft-directory/homebuiltkitbuilt-aircraft/direct-fly-alto.html|accessdate=9 September 2012}}
The Alto TG design was issued a Czech type certificate on 15 July 2008 and produced until 2022. The Alto NG replaced the original model in production in 2022.{{cite web|url= https://directfly.cz/alto-912tg/?lang=en|title= Alto 912 TG|access-date= 19 July 2022|author= Direct Fly s.r.o.|author-link=Direct Fly sro|work= directfly.cz|year= 2022 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20220719203014/https://directfly.cz/alto-912tg/?lang=en|archive-date= 19 July 2022|url-status= live}}{{cite web|url= https://www.laacr.cz/stranky/odbornosti/ultralehke-letouny/typove-prukazy.aspx|title= Typové průkazy|access-date= 19 July 2022|author= Letecká amatérská asociace ČR|work= laacr.cz|archive-url= https://archive.today/20220719202508/https://www.laacr.cz/stranky/odbornosti/ultralehke-letouny/typove-prukazy.aspx|archive-date= 19 July 2022|url-status= live}}{{cite web|url= https://directfly.cz/alto-ng/?lang=en|title= Alto NG|access-date= 19 July 2022|author= Direct Fly s.r.o.|author-link=Direct Fly sro|work= directfly.cz|year= 2022 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20220719203444/https://directfly.cz/alto-ng/?lang=en|archive-date= 19 July 2022|url-status= live}}
In 2011 the design was accepted as a Federal Aviation Administration approved special light-sport aircraft.{{cite web|url = https://www.faa.gov/aircraft/gen_av/light_sport/media/SLSA_Directory.xlsx|title = SLSA Make/Model Directory|accessdate = 9 February 2017|author = Federal Aviation Administration|author-link = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 26 September 2016}}
The Alto NG replaced the original TG model in production in 2022.
Operational history
The aircraft was introduced to the US light sport market at the 2010 Sun 'n Fun airshow.{{citation |title=Sun n' Fun: Light sport makers set sights on Europe |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/sun-n39-fun-light-sport-makers-set-sights-on-europe-340795/ |first=Brendan |last=Sobie |location=Washington DC |date=23 April 2010 |work=flightglobal.com}}
In July 2022 there were five Altos registered with the US Federal Aviation Administration.{{cite web|url = https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/MakeModelInquiry|title = Make / Model Inquiry|accessdate = 19 July 2022|author = Federal Aviation Administration|author-link = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 19 July 2022}}
Variants
;Alto TG
:Tricycle landing gear version with a {{convert|472.5|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} gross weight.{{cite web|url = http://www.directfly.cz/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=34&Itemid=62&lang=en|title = Specifications|accessdate = 31 May 2012|last = DirectFly|year = 2009}}
;Alto TW
:Tailwheel (conventional gear) model.
;Alto 100
:Version for the American light sport aircraft market.
;Alto NG
:Improved "New Generation" version introduced in 2022. This model has a {{convert|600|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} gross weight, strengthened nosewheel landing gear leg and fuselage, longer engine mount and cowling for the Rotax 912 ULS engine, plus uses push-pull tubes in place of control cables.
Specifications (Alto TG European ultralight)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=met
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=one passenger
|length m=6.15
|length ft=
|length in=
|length note=
|span m=8.10
|span ft=
|span in=
|span note=
|height m=2.25
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=10.14
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=287
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=472.5
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|118|L}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Rotax 912ULS
|eng1 type=four cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine
|eng1 kw=75
|eng1 hp=
|prop blade number=
|prop name=
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=245
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=210
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=65
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=270
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|g limits=+4/-2
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=5.5
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|sink rate ms=
|sink rate ftmin=
|sink rate note=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=46.6
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Direct Fly Alto}}
- {{Official website|http://www.directfly.cz/}}
{{DirectFly aircraft}}
Category:2000s Czech ultralight aircraft