EKOLOT JK-05 BEETLE

Canadian marketing name: Pathmaker
French and Polish marketing name: Junior

TYPE: Side-by-side ultralight.

PROGRAMME: Design revealed publicly March 1997; composites airframe of JK-03 Junior prototype completed mid-1998; this aircraft made maiden flight 9 September 1999, powered by Suzuki motorcar engine. Public debut mid-2000 at air show in Blois, France, resulting in French orders for four production JK-03s. Improved version then developed as JK-05, making first flight 30 August 2001, powered by Rotax 582 UL engine. Verner 133 M and Rotax 912 UL introduced as alternative power plants in May and October 2002 respectively.

CURRENT VERSIONS: JK-03 Junior: Prototype and first four production aircraft.
JK-05 Beetle/Junior: Current production version: as described.
Pathmaker: Marketed in Canada by Skypaths Inc. Rotax 912 ULS engine and 65 litres (17.2 US gallons; 14.3 Imp gallons) fuel; max T-O weight 560 kg (1,234 lb); max range 410 n miles (760 km; 472 miles).

CUSTOMERS: Total 24 of Junior series built by April 2003, including exports to Canada and France.

COSTS: €27,500 plus tax (2003).

DESIGN FEATURES: Braced high-wing monoplane (single I strut each side) with sweptback vertical tail; constant chord, non-swept wings (with leading-edge cutout at root to improve cockpit view) and horizontal tail. Small underfin.
Laminar flow wing section (modified NN 1817).

FLYING CONTROLS: Manual (pushrods and cables). Electrically actuated full-span flaperons (6° up, 15 and 20°); one-piece elevator, with electrically actuated central trim tab.

STRUCTURE: Stainless steel tube frame; remainder of GFRP/CFRP-reinforced resin composites. Foam and carbon fibre wing main spar. Fin integral with fuselage. Can be assembled/disassembled for storage and transportation by two people in about 10 minutes.

LANDING GEAR: Tricycle type; fixed. Cantilever, self-sprung composites main gear legs; steel nosewheel strut with rubber-in-compression shock-absorbers. All three wheels size 350x150 and fitted with speed fairings. Mainwheels have Bowden cable brakes; nosewheel steerable by rudder pedals.

POWER PLANT: One 47.8 kW (64.1 hp) Rotax 582 ULS or 58.2 kW (78 hp) Verner 133 M flat twin, or 59.6 kW (79.9 hp) Rotax 912 ULS flat-four; Aero Sail three-blade propeller.
Two fuel tanks aft of cockpit, combined capacity 60 litres (15.9 US gallons; 13.2 Imp gallons); gravity filler cap aft of wing on port side.

ACCOMMODATION: Window/door each side, hinged on centreline and opening upward; additional transparencies aft of these and in cabin roof. Baggage space aft of seats.

AVIONICS: Standard VFR instrumentation and flap position indicator. Options include intercom and ICOM IC-A110 radio.

EQUIPMENT: Galaxy recovery parachute in fuselage top decking.

DIMENSIONS, EXTERNAL:

  • Wing span: 10.00 m (32 ft 9¾ in)
  • Length overall: 5.95 m (19 ft 6¼ in)
  • Height overall: 2.30 m (7 ft 6½ in)

DIMENSIONS, INTERNAL:

  • Cabin max width: 1.20 m (3 ft 11¼ in)

AREAS:

  • Wings, gross: 9.72 m² (104.6 sq ft)

WEIGHTS AND LOADINGS (A: Rotax 582, B: Rotax 912, C: Verner 133 M):

  • Weight empty: A: 265 kg (584 lb)
    • B: 280 kg (617 lb)
    • C: 290 kg (639 lb)
  • Max T-O weight (except Pathmaker): 480 kg (1,058 lb)
  • Max wing loading (except Pathmaker): 49.4 kg/m² (10.11 lb/sq ft)
  • Max power loading: A: 10.04 kg/kW (16.50 lb/hp)
    • B: 8.05 kg/kW (13.23 lb/hp)
    • C: 8.25 kg/kW (13.55 lb/hp)

PERFORMANCE (A, B and C as above):

  • Never-exceed speed (VNE): all: 113 kt (210 km/h; 130 mph)
  • Max level speed: A: 97 kt (180 km/h; 112 mph)
    • B: 113 kt (210 km/h; 130 mph)
    • C: 103 kt (190 km/h; 118 mph)
  • Max cruising speed, 75% power: A: 84 kt (155 km/h; 96 mph)
    • B: 97 kt (180 km/h; 112 mph)
    • C: 89 kt (165 km/h; 103 mph)
  • Stalling speed, flaperons down: all: 31 kt (56 km/h; 35 mph)
  • Max rate of climb at S/L: A: 240 m (787 ft)/min
    • B: 480 m (1,575 ft)/min
    • C: 300 m (984 ft)/min
  • T-O run: A, C: 120 m (395 ft)
    • B: 80 m (265 ft)
  • T-O to 15 m (50 ft): A, C: 220 m (720 ft)
    • B: 150 m (495 ft)
  • Landing run: all: 100 m (330 ft)
  • Max range: A: 243 n miles (450 km; 279 miles)
    • B: 378 n miles (700 km; 435 miles)
    • C: 270 n miles (500 km; 310 miles)
  • g limits: +5/-3

The article appears in the following publication:
Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2004-2005. Jane's Information Group Ltd. 2004. ISBN: 0-7106-2614-2

***