Spacek SD-1 Minisport
{{Short description|Czech ultralight aircraft design}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=SD-1 Minisport | image=Spacek SD-1 Minisport.jpg | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Amateur-built aircraft | national origin=Czech Republic | manufacturer=Spacek | designer=Igor Špaček | first flight= | introduced= | retired= | status=Plans and kits available (2016) | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= about 41 flying by November 2015 | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Spacek SD-1 Minisport is a Czech amateur-built aircraft, designed by Igor Špaček and produced by Spacek of Hodonín. The aircraft was also produced for a short time in the United States by SkyCraft Airplanes of Orem, Utah as a light-sport aircraft, but they had gone out of businesses by 2017. The aircraft is supplied in the form of plans, as a kit for amateur construction, or as a ready-to-fly aircraft.Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 120. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485XTacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 127. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}{{cite web|url=http://generalaviationnews.com/2013/05/27/skycraft-begins-production-on-sd-1-minisport/ |title=SkyCraft begins production on SD-1 Minisport – General Aviation News |publisher=Generalaviationnews.com |date=27 May 2013 |access-date=1 May 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160311142738/http://generalaviationnews.com/2013/05/27/skycraft-begins-production-on-sd-1-minisport/|archive-date = 11 March 2016}}{{cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEnJzzDzXfs&t=|title = SD 1 MiniSport, SD1 Mini Sport experimental aircraft from SD Planes USA AV16|access-date = 7 May 2020|last =Johnson |first = Dan |work = Light Sport and Ultralight Flyer |date = 17 June 2017}}{{cite web|url = https://www.bydanjohnson.com/flying-sd-planes-sd-1-highly-affordable-single-seat-aircraft/|title = Flying SD Planes' SD-1 Highly Affordable Single Seat Aircraft|access-date = 7 May 2020|last =Unwin |first =Dave |work = bydanjohnson.com|date = 4 March 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200507123218/https://www.bydanjohnson.com/flying-sd-planes-sd-1-highly-affordable-single-seat-aircraft/|archive-date = 7 May 2020}}
Design and development
The aircraft features a cantilever low-wing, a single-seat enclosed cockpit, fixed conventional landing gear or optionally tricycle landing gear, a T-tail and a single engine in tractor configuration. Due to its very light weight it can qualify for the German 120 kg category.{{cite web|url = http://sdplanes.com/sd1a.htm|title = The SD-1 Minisport Design Philosophy|access-date = 19 December 2012|year = 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110616021711/http://www.sdplanes.com/sd1a.htm|archive-date = 16 June 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://ultraleicht120.de/2017/06/22/deutscher-meister-im-fliegergewicht/|title="Deutscher Meister im Fliegergewicht." – Das wirklich leichte Fliegen.|last=Mike|website=ultraleicht120.de|access-date=2 August 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191010045000/https://ultraleicht120.de/2017/06/22/deutscher-meister-im-fliegergewicht/|archive-date = 10 October 2019}} It complies with the United Kingdom SSDR rules for single seat deregulated microlight aeroplanes.{{cite web |url = http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/InformationNotice2014101.pdf |title = United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Information Notice Number: IN–2014/091 |access-date = 8 December 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150528034055/http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/InformationNotice2014101.pdf|archive-date = 28 May 2015}}
The aircraft is made from wood, with judicious use of composites, including for the wing spar. Its {{convert|6|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing employs an A315 airfoil, has an area of {{convert|6|m2|sqft|abbr=on}} and utilizes flaperons. Engines of {{convert|24|to|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} can be used. Standard engines tested are the {{convert|28|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Hirth F33, the {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Hirth F23 two-strokes, the {{convert|24|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} or {{convert|33|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Briggs & Stratton Vanguard (designated SE24), or the Verner JCV-360 powerplants. The Rotax 447, Hirth 2702, Zanzottera MZ 201, Simonini Victor 1 Super, 2si 460 and Half VW can also be used.{{cite web|url = http://sdplanes.com/sd1specsa.htm|title = The SD-1 Minisport Technical Data|access-date = 18 October 2012|last = Spacek sro|year = 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130617001616/https://www.sdplanes.com/sd1specsa.htm|archive-date = 17 June 2013}}{{cite web|url = https://www.sdplanes.com/sd-1/engines/se-24-24hp-4stroke/|title = SE24 – 24hp|access-date = 8 May 2020|author=Spacek s.r.o. |work = sdplanes.com|year=2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200508114722/https://www.sdplanes.com/sd-1/engines/se-24-24hp-4stroke/|archive-date =8 May 2020 }}
By November 2015 113 had been sold worldwide and about 41 were flying.{{cite book |title= Jane's All the World's Aircraft : development & production : 2016-17|last=Gunston |first=Bill |year=2016|publisher=IHS Global|isbn= 978-0-7106-3177-0 |pages=208}}
At the end of May 2014 SkyCraft Airplanes announced that light-sport flight testing on its version had been completed. Their model has a revised cockpit, including Dynon SkyView instrumentation, a hydraulic brake system and the {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Hirth F-23 two-stroke fuel-injected engine.{{cite news|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/SD-1-Minisport-Flight-Testing-Completed222094-1.html|title = SD-1 Minisport Flight Testing Completed|access-date = 2 June 2014|last = Durden|first = Rick|date = 30 May 2014| work = AVweb|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140601111949/http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/SD-1-Minisport-Flight-Testing-Completed222094-1.html|archive-date = 1 June 2014}}{{cite news|url = https://www.avweb.com/news/skycraft-ready-to-fly-expanding-in-utah/|title = SkyCraft Ready To Fly, Expanding in Utah|access-date = 11 July 2014|last = Grady|first = Mary|date = 8 July 2014| work = AVweb|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190912110332/https://www.avweb.com/news/skycraft-ready-to-fly-expanding-in-utah/|archive-date =12 September 2019 }} The company's intention was that 12 aircraft would be built for the first production run.{{cite journal|journal=AOPA Pilot|date=September 2014|title=Pilot Briefing}} However, as of 7 August 2017 the SD-1 was still not on the Federal Aviation Administration's list of accepted light-sport aircraft.{{cite web|url = https://www.faa.gov/aircraft/gen_av/light_sport/media/SLSA_Directory.xlsx|title = FAA Make/Model Directory for SLSA|access-date = 8 September 2017|author = Federal Aviation Administration|author-link = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 7 August 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190328165032/https://www.faa.gov/aircraft/gen_av/light_sport/media/SLSA_Directory.xlsx|archive-date =28 March 2019}}
Variants
;SD-1 TD
:Conventional landing gear (taildragger) version
;SD-1 TG
;SD-1 TD XL
:Conventional landing gear (taildragger) version for taller pilots
;SD-1 TG XL
:Tricycle gear version for taller pilots
;SD-2 SportMaster
: 2-seat tricycle gear version{{cite web|url=http://www.sdplanes.com/new/description/|title=SD-2 Description|work=sdplanes.com|access-date=29 January 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190413180620/http://www.sdplanes.com/new/description/|archive-date = 13 April 2019}}
Accidents
- In September 2013, during a test and evaluation flight of the sole example flying in the United States, the pilot lost control while flying aerobatics not approved for the aircraft type and the aircraft crashed. The ballistic parachute did not deploy properly, most likely due to be out of limits for deployment, and the pilot was killed.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=39eb3cac-32a5-43ec-b446-5a96239f3a8c|title=Updated: Only US SkyCraft MiniSport Down in Utah Test Flight {{!}} Aero-News Network|website=aero-news.net|access-date=2017-09-08|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190414045442/http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=39eb3cac-32a5-43ec-b446-5a96239f3a8c|archive-date = 14 April 2019}}
- In August 2018, near Nannhausen in Germany, an SD1 crashed after engine problems during climb-out after take-off. The pilot did not survive, the SD1 was written off.
- In June 2021, a loss of control accident happened in Butler, Ohio/USA. The pilot failed to maintain adequate airspeed following a partial loss of engine power during take-off, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. The pilot survived, the airplane suffered substantial damage.
Specifications (SD-1)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Bayerl and Spacek sro{{cite web|url=http://www.sdplanes.com/new/sd-1-versions/|title=SD-1 Versions|work=sdplanes.com|access-date=29 January 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190323172851/http://www.sdplanes.com/new/sd-1-versions/|archive-date = 23 March 2019}}{{cite web|url = https://www.sdplanes.com/sd-1/engines/hirth-f33-28hp-2stroke/|title = Hirth F33 – 28hp|access-date = 10 May 2020|author=Spacek sro |work = sdplanes.com|year=2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200510122949/https://www.sdplanes.com/sd-1/engines/hirth-f33-28hp-2stroke/|archive-date = 10 May 2020}}
|prime units?=met
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=
|length m=4.35
|length ft=
|length in=
|length note=
|span m=6
|span ft=
|span in=
|span note=
|height m=1.23
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=6
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=GA 37U-A315
|empty weight kg=110
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=240
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|34|L}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Hirth F33
|eng1 type=single cylinder, air-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=28
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=wooden
|prop dia m=1.2
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=185
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=135
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=63
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=flaperons deployed
|never exceed speed kmh=210
|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=13:1
|climb rate ms=3
|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=40
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
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|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
See also
;Similar aircraft
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://sdplanes.com/}}