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 nrakes; 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.
