TYPE: Single-seat ultralight biplane; side-by-side ultralight biplane.

PROGRAMME: Open cockpit Yunior (Junior) first flew July 1987 as single-seater with 5.68 m (18 ft 7½ in) span and 280 kg (617 lb) MTOW. Developed as MAI-89, 1989, span 8.11 m (26 ft 7½ in); MTOW 340 kg (750 lb). Production version, MAI-890, flew 1990 and entered series manufacture in 1991; although this halted temporarily in mid-1990s, it was announced in 2002 that production would continue. Russian certification awarded in December 1999. Manufactured by RSK 'MiG'.

CURRENT VERSIONS: Aviatika-MAI-890: Single-seater.
Aviatika-MAI-890U: Side-by-side two-seater (uchebny: training). First flown August 1991 (47.8 kW; 64.1 hp Rotax 582 UL). Normally with Rotax 912 UL engine (first flight 16 September 1992). Empty weight 298 kg (657 lb); MTOW 540 kg (1,190 lb); length 5.49 m (18 ft 0¼ in). Floatplane version completed trials on Lake Shartash, Ekaterinburg, September 2000.
Aviatika-MAI-890SKh: Single-seat crop-sprayer version (selskokhozyaistvenny: agricultural); Rotax 912 ULS engine; marketing name Farmer. Chemical tank under engine and spraybar aft of lower wings; weight of agricultural equipment 28 kg (62 lb); chemicals 60 kg (132 lb) (105 litres; 27.7 US gallons; 23.1 Imp gallons) maximum with Rotax 582 engine.
Certified version received Avia Register approval on 26 April 2002. Changes include conformal chemical tank, enhanced spraying equipment, ventilated cockpit with filter, stall warner, reinforced landing gear, improved fuel system and FLYdat engine instrument system.
Aviatika-MAI-890USKh: Two-seat crop-sprayer version based on MAI-890U. Tank volume 100 litres (26.4 US gallons; 22.0 Imp gallons).
Aviatika-MAI-890S: Rotax 912 ULS 73.5 kW (98.6 hp) flat-four. Prototype (ZU-BZO) converted in South Africa, 1999, by Aeroserve Pty Ltd. Regarded by OSKBES as standard 890.

CUSTOMERS: More than 280 delivered by early 2003, of which some 60 were agricultural variants; eight sold during last six months of 2001, including six equipped for crop spraying. Approximately 30 imported by a South African dealer in 1995; these known locally as 890CSH Mai and 890U Mai. Total market for agricultural variant estimated at 800 to 1,000.

COSTS: US$16,000 to US$34,000 (2002).

DESIGN FEATURES: Strut- and wire-braced biplane; unspinnable; conventional tail surfaces carried on tubular boom; engine mounted under trailing-edge of upper wing; slight sweepback on all wings; dihedral on lower wings only. Semi-aerobatic and capable of flying in rough air conditions. Designed to JAR-VLA and FAR Pt 23 standards. Two cockpit doors, one jettisonable: provision for backpack parachute(s).

FLYING CONTROLS: Conventional and manual. Full-span ailerons on lower wings; large-area rudder and elevators, each with ground-adjustable tab.

STRUCTURE: Aircraft grade aluminium and titanium alloys, alloy steels; fabric covering unaffected by sun's radiation or atmospheric precipitation.

LANDING GEAR: Non-retractable tricycle type; single wheel on each unit; cantilever spring main legs. Brakes on mainwheels. Optional skis or floats. All wheels 300x125.

POWER PLANT: One 73.5 kW (98.6 hp) Rotax 912 ULS four-cylinder piston engine; VV-98E-11 two-blade pusher propeller. A 37.0 kW (49.6 hp) Rotax 503 UL-2V may also be fitted. Standard fuel 50 litres (13.2 US gallons; 11.0 Imp gallons); provision for 55 litre (14.5 US gallon; 12.1 Imp gallon) auxiliary tank on single-seat version.

EQUIPMENT: Provision for up to 120 kg (265 lb) payload on four attachments, under engine mountings (60 kg; 132 lb), or underbelly (100 kg; 220 lb), or at lower wingtips (each 45 kg; 99 lb), including agricultural dusting and spraygear for Aviatika-MAI-890USKh Farmer. Optional BRS ballistic parachute system.