Cruises At 118 mph On 1.8 Gallons Per Hour

By Eric Van Gilder

Among the Czech Republic offering on display at Oshkosh this week is the Skycraft SD-1 Minisport LSA. Powered by a fuel-injected 50 horsepower Hirth F-23 engine, the Skycraft can cruise at 118 MPH with a range of 575 miles burning only 1.8 gallons of fuel per hour.

The aircraft is constructed of spruce and birch woods, carbon fiber and composite materials. The simple design was born in the Czech Republic and was originally available as a kit. This year, Skycraft began selling them as a production built aircraft. The Skycraft is built in the USA.

The engine has a 1000 hour TBO and the first 500 hour top-end overhaul is free to the purchaser. They also provide a replacement for the carbon fiber propeller at 600 hours.

The aircraft needs only 200 feet to takeoff and 400 feet for landing. It will climb at 1,400 feet per minute. The interior is nice and the standard aircraft comes with a carbon fiber panel that has the Dynon avionics package. The seat is Italian leather and in a well thought out move, there is a baggage door compartment aft of the cockpit so you don’t have to remove the seat to get to your cargo. All of this with a list price of $54,850.

Options for the Skycraft are the ballistic parachute system, Mode S transponder and a customized enclosed trailer to transport the aircraft. It can be purchased in a conventional tricycle gear or tail-dragger configuration. It looks like a fun little airplane at a great price.

FMI: www.skycraftairplanes.com