MAI-223

The MAI-223 Kityonok (Russian: МАИ-223 «Китенок», English: MAI-223 Whale Calf) is a single-engine STOL ultralight aircraft developed by the Moscow Aviation Institute's special design bureau (OSKBEC) from 2002. The first production aircraft was delivered in 2008. A crop spraying version is under development. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or complete and ready-to-fly.[1][2][3][4]

MAI-223 Kityonok
MAI-223 at the 2007 MAKS Airshow
Role Two seat ultralight.
National origin Russia
Manufacturer OSKBEC MAI
First flight 20 October 2004
Number built 4 by 2009

Design and development

The Kityonok is a parasol winged, conventionally laid-out ultralight which seats two side by side. The parasol configuration was used to increase wing lifting area to improve STOL performance. Though the prototype had a partly fabric-covered fuselage, later Kityonoks have glass fibre skins everywhere except for control surfaces. The fuselage has an aluminium frame, and the wings have aluminium alloy ribs. The constant-chord wings are swept forward at about 4°, with 3° of dihedral and mount electrically operated flaps. The wings are braced with a V-form pair of lift struts on each side, fixed to the lower fuselage close to the engine mounting and assisted by jury struts. The centre section loads are carried by a centre-line pair of faired cabane struts. The wings can be folded for storage. The tailplane is trapezoidal and set at the top of the fuselage; there is an electrically operated trim tab on the port elevator. The rudder has a ground-adjustable tab.[1][4]

The Kityonok is normally powered by a 73.5 kW (98.6 hp) Rotax 912 ULS flat-four engine driving a three-bladed propeller, though the lower-powered Rotax 503UL or 582 UL are options. Access to the cabin is via two deep, glazed doors. The Kityonok has a conventional undercarriage with main wheels on backward-leaning cantilever legs mounted on torsion bars in the lower fuselage. The mainwheels have hydraulic brakes, and the tailwheel casters. Alternatively it can be equipped with skis or floats.[1]

Two production batches of 10 were begun in 2006, on by MAI and one by PRAD. Plans were announced that year for production of the MAI-223SKh crop sprayer version at UZGA (The Ural Works of Civil Aviation) at Ekaterinburg. 4 Kityonoks had been completed by 2009. Though it was intended to produce kits for home building as well as ready-to-fly aircraft, it is not known if any have been made.[1]

Operational history

The third prototype/first production aircraft was delivered to the Tomsk Aero Club in 2008.[1]

Variants

Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 2011/12[1]

MAI-223
Base version
MAI-223SKh
Crop sprayer, announced 2006, first flight 31 August 2007. Can carry up to 160 L (42.2 US gal; 35.2 Imp gal) of chemicals distributed via an 8.56 m (28 ft 1 in) spray bar extending beyond the wings.
MAI-208
Autogyro based on MAI-223 fuselage.

Specifications

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2011/12[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 6.00 m (19 ft 8 in)
  • Wingspan: 8.19 m (26 ft 10 in)
  • Height: 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in)
  • Wing area: 11.40 m2 (122.7 sq ft) gross
  • Airfoil: DFS
  • Empty weight: 320 kg (705 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 495 kg (1,091 lb) UL; 600 kg (1,322 lb JAR VLA)
  • Fuel capacity: 70 L (18.5 US gal;15.4 Imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912 ULS air- and water-cooled flat-four, 73.5 kW (98.6 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 190 km/h (120 mph, 100 kn) all performance figures at 610 kg (1,344 lb)
  • Cruise speed: 160 km/h (99 mph, 86 kn) economical
  • Stall speed: 73 km/h (45 mph, 39 kn) flaps down
  • Range: 530 km (330 mi, 290 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 5,500 m (18,000 ft)
  • g limits: +2/-4
  • Take-off run: 170 m (560 ft)
  • Landing run: 120 m (395 ft)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. Jackson, Paul (2011). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2011-12. Coulsdon, Surrey: IHS Jane's. p. 498-. ISBN 978-0-7106-2955-5.
  2. OSKBES-MAI website
  3. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 68. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  4. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 72. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
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