North American marketing names: Lafayette I Sportster; II Touring (Club); III Bushplane (ULM)
TYPE: Side-by-side kitbuilt; side-by-side ultralight kitbuilt.
PROGRAMME: Composites version of the metal MC100 Ban-Bi designed by Michel Colomban. Continues to be referred to by some sources as Ban Bi. MCR identifies Michel Colomban/Christophe Robin. Prototype (F-PECH) flew 1995.
CURRENT VERSIONS: MCR01 Sportster: Certified version meeting JAR-VLA requirements; Sportster 912 or Sportster 914, according to engine. JAR-VLA certification awarded 26 June 2001 in France and 7 December 2001 in Peru.
MCR01 Club: Version of MCR01 Sportster intended for flight training. First flight (F-PCLB) June 1998. Certification to JAR-VLA was due in 2001.
MCR01 ULM: Ultralight version meeting FAI ULM requirements; 59.7 kW (80 hp) engine. Canadian MCR01 ULC has 490 kg (1,080 lb) MTOW and is known as the MCR01 SLA in the UK, where the first example (G-BZXG) made its first flight on 30 November 2001. DGAC certification received 1 March 2001.
Motor Glider: Under development. 'Winggrid' wingtips developed in conjunction with La Roche Consulting of Switzerland; 59.7 kW (80 hp) engine, best glide ratio 30:1.
MCR M: Tailwheel version. Certification issued 26 June 2002.
Electra-Plane: Being developed by Advanced Technology Products; stated to be world's first fuel cell-powered aircraft. Prototype is based on MCR01; second prototype will utilise a Hoffmann H-36 Dimona as base aircraft. Three stages planned: first, with lithium-ion batteries, will have 86 n mile (160 km; 100 mile) range; second, with combination of batteries and 10 to 15 kW (13 to 20 hp) fuel cell, will have 217 n mile (402 km; 250 mile) range. Final version will be powered solely with fuel cells and have 434 n mile (804 km; 500 mile) range.
Description applies to all versions except where indicated.
CUSTOMERS: Over 224 kits sold by January 2003, in Austria, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, UK and USA.
COSTS: Kits, less engine and instruments: Sportster €28,300, ULC/ULM €33,100, Club €31,300 (all 2003).
DESIGN FEATURES: Single-engined low-wing monoplane with T tail; design goals included extremely low structural weight, fast kit production and high performance in comfort and safety.
FLYING CONTROLS: Manual. All-moving tailplane with trim tab, which is full span on ULM version; electrically actuated flaps and pitch trim; ULM and M versions have full-span double-slotted flaperons; Sportster has flaperons (both three-position: 0, 17, 45o); Club has separate flaps and ailerns.
STRUCTURE: Wing and control surfaces built on carbon fibre spars and cellular ribs, to which performed aluminium skins are glued in partial vacuum; monocoque carbon fibre fuselage; quoted build time of 500 to 1,000 hours from three modular kits without special tools. Airframe disassembles for storage or road-towing, with recommended disassembly/reassembly time of 4 minutes, single-handed. Wing dihedral 3o.
LANDING GEAR: Fixed tricycle type with speed fairings on all three units; nosewheel steerable. Large wheels optional for rough field operation. Tailwheel configuration optional on MCR01 Club and MCR01 ULC models. Skis tested on MCR M during winter 2002-03.
POWER PLANT: One 59.6 kW (79.9 hp) Rotax 912 UL; 63.4 kW (85 hp) JPX 4T75; or 73.5 kW (98.6 hp) normally aspirated Rotax 912 ULS or turbocharged Rotax 914 flat-four driving an EVRA 156-178-106 two-blade fixed-pitch propeller optimised for cruise; three-blade MT Propeller MTV-7-A/152-106 or MTV-6-A/152-106 constant-speed propeller optional. Jabiru-powered version first flown 19 April 2002. Standard fuel capacity 80 litres (21.1 US gallons; 17.6 Imp gallons) in all versions; optional additional 90 litre (23.75 US gallon; 19.8 Imp gallon) tank in Club and ULM or 264 litre (69.7 US gallon; 58.1 Imp gallon) tank in VLA.
AVIONICS: To customer's choice.
EQUIPMENT: Optional road-towing trailer/storage hangar. BRS ballistic parachute recovery system optional on ULM.