Direct Fly Alto

Design and development

The aircraft was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight rules and US light-sport aircraft rules. It features a cantilever low-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit, fixed tricycle landing gear or optionally conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.

The aircraft is made aluminum sheet. Its 8.10 m (26.6 ft) span wing has an area of 10.14 m² (109.1 sq ft). Standard engines available are the 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912UL, the 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS and the 120 hp (89 kW) Jabiru 3300 four-stroke powerplants.

A Magnum 501 rocket powered parachute system is under development for the aircraft.

In 2011 the design was accepted as an Federal Aviation Administration approved special light-sport aircraft.

Operational history

The aircraft was first promoted to the US light sports market at the 2010 Sun 'n Fun.

In January 2015 there were two Altos registered with the US Federal Aviation Administration.

Variants

Alto TG

Tricycle landing gear version.

Alto TW

Tailwheel (conventional gear) model.

Alto 100

Marketed as an American light sport aircraft

Specifications (Alto TG European ultalight)

Data from Bayerl and Direct Fly

General characteristics

Crew: one

Capacity: one passenger

Length: 6.15 m (20 ft 2 in)

Wingspan: 8.10 m (26 ft 7 in)

Height: 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in)

Wing area: 10.14 m² (109.1 sq ft)

Empty weight: 287 kg (633 lb)

Gross weight: 472.5 kg (1,042 lb)

Fuel capacity: 118 litres (26 imp gal; 31 US gal)

Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912ULS four cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 75 kW (101 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 245 km/h (152 mph; 132 kn)

Cruising speed: 210 km/h (130 mph; 113 kn)

Stall speed: 65 km/h (40 mph; 35 kn)

Never exceed speed: 270 km/h (168 mph; 146 kn)

g limits: +4/-2

Rate of climb: 5.5 m/s (1,080 ft/min)

Wing loading: 46.6 kg/m² (9.5 lb/sq ft)