The owner of the company, Tyler Ives, told The
Associated Press "The first roll went well, but the
second roll was faster, and at that point the pilot
appeared to lose control of the airplane. We were all
puzzled. Rolls are not something it was designed to do,
and he was pushing the airplane faster than it should
go. Not to take away from the fact that Jay was an
excellent pilot. He knew the limitations of the
airplane, but he may have felt comfortable enough with
the airplane that he did it anyway."
About the SD-1 Minisport Aircraft - The Czech Republic
designed SD-1 Minisport Tailwheel or Tri-gear
configurations when certified will have a sticker price
of $54,850 with the option to purchase the ballistic
parachute for $4,150 and for mode S transponder at
$3,150. The aircraft fuel consumption will be at 60 MPG
at a cruise speed of 120 mph. The aircraft is powered by
a by a 50 horse power German engine, Hirth F-23.
The Hirth F-23 has a 1,000 TBO, making its
operational engine overhaul costs just $4 an hour.
This, combined with the 1.8 GPH fuel burn of the
engine, makes the airplane’s total hourly
operational cost just $12 an hour. The aircraft has
a tri-blade propeller built by Sandera, a Czech
company. It
is composed of carbon fiber and has a ground
adjustable pitch.
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