DF ALTO

TYPE: Two-seat lightplane; side-by-side ultralight/kitbuilt.

PROGRAMME: Prototype, with tailwheel and Jabiru engine, registered I-8039; nosewheel prototype first flew 2 September 2006.

CURRENT VERSIONS: Alto 912 UL TW: Rotax 912 UL engine and tailwheel landing gear.
Alto 912 UL TG: Rotax 912 UL engine and tricycle landing gear.
Alto 912 ULS TW/TG: Rotax 912 ULS and landing gear options.
Alto 2200 TW/TG: Jabiru 2200 and landing gear options.
Alto 3300 TW/TG: Jabiru 3300 and landing gear options.

DESIGN FEATURES: Low-mounted, constant-chord wing and tailplane; sweptback fin. Quoted kit build time 160 hours.

FLYING CONTROLS: Conventional and manual. Flaps.

STRUCTURE: Metal throughout. Rectangular fuselage cross-section, rounded above and connected with reinforcing struts. Glass fibre engine cowling.

LANDING GEAR: Fixed. Nosewheel or tailwheel type. Fuselage-mounted, spring composites cantilever mainwheel legs. Mainwheels and optional nosewheel size 400x120.

POWER PLANT: Engine options comprise 58.8 kW (78.9 hp) Rotax 912 UL; 73.5 kW (98.6 hp) Rotax 912 ULS; 74.6 kW (l00 hp) Jabiru 2200; and 89.5 kW (120 hp) Jabiru 3300. Three-blade propeller on geared Rotax 912 ULS version; two-blade propeller on Jabiru 3300 version. Fuel capacity 105 litres (27.7 US gallons; 23.1 Imp gallons) in all versions.

ACCOMMODATION: Two persons, side by side beneath single-piece canopy/windscreen.

EQUIPMENT: Optional ballistic recovery parachute.

DIMENSIONS, EXTERNAL:

  • Wing span: 7.77 m (25 ft 6 in)
  • Wing aspect ratio: 6.0
  • Length overall: 6.50 m (21 ft 4 in)
  • Height overall: 2.20 m (7 ft 2½ in)

DIMENSIONS, INTERNAL:

  • Cockpit max width: 1.06 m (3 ft 5¾ in)

AREAS:

  • Wings, gross: 10.14 m² (109.1 sq ft)

WEIGHTS AND LOADINGS:

  • Weight empty (912 ULS): 295 kg (650 lb)
  • Max T-O weight: Ultralight: 450 kg (992 lb)
    • Ultralight with BRS: 472.5 kg (1,041 lb)
    • LSA: 598 kg (1,320 lb)
  • Max wing loading, LSA: 59.1 kg/m² (12.10 lb/sq ft)
  • Max power loading, LSA, J 3300: 6.70 kg/kW (11.00 lb/hp)

PERFORMANCE (Rotax 912 ULS):

  • Never-exceed speed (VNE): 145 kt (270 km/h; 167 mph)
  • Max level speed: 132 kt (245 km/h; 152 mph)
  • Cruising speed at 75% power: 97 kt (180 km/h; 112 mph)
  • Stalling speed, flaps down:
    • with BRS: 36 kt (65 km/h; 41 mph)
    • LSA: 41 kt (76 km/h; 48 mph)
  • Max rate of climb at S/L: with BRS: 312 m (1,024 ft)/min
    • LSA: 282 m (925 ft)/min
  • T-O run: 85 m (280 ft)
  • Landing run, without braking: 150 m (495 ft)
  • g limits: with BRS: +5.2/-2.6
    • LSA: +4.0/-2.0