Flyitalia MD3 Rider
{{Short description|Italian ultralight aircraft}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Flyitalia MD3 Rider | image=FlyItalia MD3 Rider AN2272722.jpg | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Ultralight aircraft and Light-sport aircraft | national origin=Italy | manufacturer= SD Aviation Srl, Mornago, VA | designer=Jaro Drostal | first flight= | introduced= | retired= | status=In production (2013) | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Flyitalia MD3 Rider is an Italian ultralight and light-sport aircraft that was designed by Jaro Drostal in the Czech Republic and produced by Flyitalia of Dovera, Italy. The aircraft was supplied by Flyitalia complete and ready-to-fly.Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 54. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485XTacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 70. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}
The company went out of business and production ended in 2011, but production was resumed by a new company, Next Aircraft of Rivanazzano in 2013, who supply it ready-to-fly.{{cite web|url=http://www.next-aircraft.com/ |title=Md3 Rider is back |publisher=Next-aircraft.com |date= |accessdate=2013-07-01}}
Finally MD3 Rider was acquired by SD Aviation Srl at the beginning of 2024, including all licensing rights. The current models, along with their unmanned versions equipped with original software, are produced by SD Aviation Srl in Mornago, VA, Italy.
Design and development
The aircraft was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight rules and US light-sport aircraft rules. It features a strut-braced high-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit, fixed tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.
The aircraft is made with riveted and bonded aluminum sheet semi-monocoque construction, with a welded steel cockpit cage. The engine cowling and fairings are made from composites, with the cockpit doors fashioned from carbon-fibre. Its {{convert|8.5|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has an area of {{convert|9.5|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, electrically-operated flaps, electric elevator trim and integral fuel tanks. The cockpit is {{convert|117|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} wide. A folding wing for storage and ground transport was a factory option. The standard engines factory supplied are the {{convert|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 912UL and the {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 912ULS four-stroke powerplant.
The MD3 has a gross weight of {{convert|472.5|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} for the European microlight class and {{convert|520|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} for the US LSA category.
Specifications (MD3 Rider)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=met
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|crew=one
|capacity=one passenger
|length m=
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|span m=8.5
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|wing area sqm=9.5
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|empty weight kg=287
|empty weight lb=
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|gross weight kg=472.5
|gross weight lb=
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|fuel capacity={{convert|70|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=
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|max speed kmh=210
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|cruise speed kmh=190
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|stall speed kmh=62
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|climb rate ms=7
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|wing loading kg/m2=49.74
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Flyitalia MD3 Rider}}
- {{Official website|http://www.next-aircraft.com/}}
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