MAI-223 Kityonok

OSKBEC MAI · Russia · first flew 2004 · light aircraft

The MAI-223 Kityonok (Whale Calf) is a single-engine STOL ultralight aircraft developed by the Moscow Aviation Institute's special design bureau (OSKBEC) from 2002. The parasol configuration was used to increase wing area and improve STOL performance.

Recognition (WEFT)

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

• Parasol-wing ultralight seating two side by side, with a V-form pair of lift struts each side
• Constant-chord wings swept forward at about 4 degrees with 3 degrees of dihedral
• Trapezoidal tailplane set at the top of the fuselage, and a conventional tailwheel undercarriage

It is normally powered by a 73.5 kW Rotax 912 ULS driving a three-bladed propeller. Access is by two deep glazed doors, the wings can be folded for storage, and skis or floats can be fitted.

Specifications

• The MAI-223 Kityonok has a length of 6 m (20 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 8.19 m (27 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 190 km/h (118 mph).
• Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The first flight was on 20 October 2004. The first production aircraft was delivered in 2008, and four had been completed by 2009.

Variants

The MAI-223SKh crop sprayer, announced in 2006 and first flown on 31 August 2007, can carry up to 160 litres of chemicals. The MAI-208 is an autogyro based on the MAI-223 fuselage.

Where you'll see it

The third prototype, which was the first production aircraft, was delivered to the Tomsk Aero Club in 2008. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or complete and ready to fly.

Related aircraft

• Comp Air Jet
• Epic LT
• Lambert Mission 212
• Quest Kodiak

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