Extra 300
The Extra Flugzeugbau Extra 300 is an unlimited-level aerobatic two-seat monoplane aircraft. It was designed by Walter Extra, a retired aerobatic pilot, in 1987. The Extra 300 was developed from the early 1980s Extra 230 but the wing is no longer made of wood. The aircraft has a welded steel tube fuselage covered in fiberglass and fabric. The mid-set wing has a carbon fiber composite spar and fiberglass skins. A symmetrical airfoil, mounted with a zero angle of incidence, provides equal performance in both upright and inverted flight. The landing gear is fixed taildragger style with composite main legs and fiberglass wheel pants. The powerplant is a fuel-injected Lycoming AEIO-540 which produces 300 horsepower (or 224 kW).
The Extra 300 is stressed for plus 10 to minus 10 G with one person on board and plus 10 to minus 8G with two. Some Extra 300s are registered as Experimental Exhibition aircraft in the U.S., while others are certified in the Aerobatic category.
- The Extra 260 was based on the Extra 230 with a a 260hp AEIO-540 engine, a 300-like wing, and the predecessor to the 300. Only a few were made.
- The 300S is the Single-seater version, with a wingspan reduced by 1 ft 7½ in., and fitted with larger ailerons.
- The Extra 330SX was a custom development of the 300S with a wider-chord rudder, a larger elevator, and a more powerful Lycoming AEIO-580 powerplant producing 330 hp (or 246 kW). Some 300S were sold with the "bigger tail" of the 330SX.
- More Extra 300L ("L" for low wing) aircraft have been produced than any other model. Its wing is mounted at the bottom of the fuselage, with its span reduced from 26 ft 3 in (8.00 m) to 24 ft 3 in (7.39 m). Improved ailerons boost the 300L's roll rate to 400 degrees per second. All 300Ls are fully certified under FAA and European Joint Aviation Authorities regulations.
- The 300LP ("P" for performance) is a reduced weight version of the 300L, re-designed for better performance in competitions and airshows.
- The 300SP is a performance version of the 300S single-seater. Weight was reduced, and the tail of the 330SX installed.
- The 300SHP (HP=High performance) is an uncertified version of the 300SP with an AEIO-580 engine.
- The Extra 300SR is a modified aircraft using a specially designed high-lift wing for the Red Bull Air Race World Series. It made promising debuts in July 2007, but has yet to challenge the dominance of the Zivko Edge 540.
Additional information
The Royal Jordanian Falcons, the aerobatic demonstration team of the Royal Jordanian Airline and the official national aerobatic team of Jordan, perform in a formation of four Extra 300S.
An Extra 300 owned and flown by Chuck Coleman was one of the official chase planes of Burt Rutan's SpaceShipOne and Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer (during flight test). The aircraft was destroyed and Coleman was critically injured in a crash at the Mojave spaceport, on 16 August 2006, as Coleman practiced an aerobatics routine for an upcoming airshow.
Patty Wagstaff's Extra 300S is featured on five flight simulators: Microsoft Flight Simulator 95, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 and Microsoft Flight Simulator X, as well as on RealFlight G3
Military Operators
Chile, France, Jordan.
— — — = = — — —