TYPE: Aerobatic two-seat sportplane.
PROGRAMME: Design began January 1987; first flight (D-EAEW) 6 May 1988; LBA certification 16 May 1990; certified FAR Pt23 Amendment 33 Normal and Aerobatic categories for USA 26 February 1993; production started October 1988.
CURRENT VERSIONS: Extra EA-300: Baseline, mid-wing, two-seat aircraft.
Details apply to Extra EA-300 except where indicated.
Extra EA-300L: Low-wing, two-seat version with other structural changes; low wing enhances visibility during take-off and landing and eases installation of full IFR instrumentation; new ailerons give slightly higher roll rate (approximately 400°/s) and improved snap-rolling capability, both erect and inverted; shorter fuselage with all-composites side and belly access panels; cockpit interior modified for more comfort, with new reclined carbon fibre seats with optional leather trim; first aircraft (D-EUWH) delivered November 1994. FAA certification 31 March 1995. Current production version.
Extra EA-300S: Single-seat version of EA-300 with same power plant; wing shortened by 50 cm (19½ in) and more powerful ailerons; first flight (D-ESEW) 4 March 1992; certified March 1992; FAA certification 28 October 1993.
Extra EA-330LX: Strengthened version of EA-300L with CFRP fuselage panels, fin and rudder; wider-chord rudder and elevators, all with horn balances; 246 kW (330 hp) Textron Lycoming AEIO-580 engine. Prototype (D-ESEW, modified from prototype EA-300S) first flown January 1998 and since converted to EA-330L. First production aircraft (D-EPET) flew 11 May 1998 and delivered to Hungarian aerobatic pilot Peter Besenyei; normally flown with single-seat cockpit canopy; first public performance at North Weald, UK, 29 May 1998. Third, D-EDGE (marked '300LX') built 1999; none further known.
Extra EA-330XS: Designation applied to the former EA-300S (including D-EJKS of Aerobatics unlimited and N76PK of display pilot Gene Soucy) retrofitted with wide-chord rudder.
CUSTOMERS: Total 66 (including prototype) two-seat original ('mid-wing') EA-300s delivered by April 1997; additional one to USA in November 1998. Further 28 EA-300Ss built by August 1995, plus one in 1997, one in 1999 and one in 2002; total 31. EA-300L production totalled 165 by April 2003. EA-330L/LX production two (excluding prototype). Thus, 264 of all EA-300/330 by April 2003. Total of eight were scheduled for production in 2003, then 36 in 2004, rising to maximum capacity of 48 in 2005. Almost all for customers in USA, although recent sales included one to Israel, six in Romania, one to South Africa and two to the United Kingdom for Brian Lecomber's Firebird Aerobatics.
COSTS: Basic price (300L) US$243,000 (2003).
DESIGN FEATURES: Designed for unlimited competition aerobatics; tapered, square-tipped mid-mounted wing with 4° leading-edge sweepback; aerofoil symmetrical MA-15S at root, MA-12S at tip; no twist or dihedral.
FLYING CONTROLS: Conventional and manual. Rod and cable operated; nearly full-span ailerons, assisted by spade-type suspended tabs; trim tab in starboard elevator.
STRUCTURE: Fuselage (excluding tail surfaces) of steel tube frame with part aluminium, part fabric covering; wing spars of carbon composites and shells of carbon composite sandwich; tail surfaces of carbon spars and glass fibre shells.
LANDING GEAR: Fixed cantilever composites arch main gear with single polyamid-faired wheels; Cleveland brakes; leaf-sprung steerable tailwheel.
POWER PLANT: One 224 kW (300 hp) Textron Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5 flat-six engine, with Gomolzig exhaust, driving an MT-Propeller MTV-9-B-C/C200-15 three-blade, constant-speed propeller (four-blade MTV-14-B-C/C190-17 optional). With either standard or optional propeller and Gomolzig System 3 silencer, Extra 300s meet German and US noise limits. Christen Industries inverted oil system. Fuel capacity: 300L standard capacity of 171 litres (45.1 US gallons; 37.6 Imp gallons), of which 165 litres (43.7 US gallons; 36.3 Imp gallons) usable; optional long-range tanks raise total fuel capacity to 208 litres (55.1 US gallons; 45.9 Imp gallons), of which 200 litres (52.8 US gallons; 44.0 Imp gallons) usable. Aerobatic category usable fuel restricted to 45 litres (12 US gallons; 10 Imp gallons). 300S usable fuel capacity 169 litres (44.6 US gallons; 37.2 Imp gallons).
ACCOMMODATION: Pilot and co-pilot/passenger in tandem under single-piece canopy opening to starboard; additional transparencies in lower sides of cockpit.
SYSTEMS: 12 V generator and battery.
AVIONICS: To customer's requirements.