Extra Aircraft‘s new aircraft, the Extra 300SX, had its successful first flight July 6, 2023, in Germany.
The new aircraft is the successor to the company’s Extra 300SC, one of the most successful aircraft in aerobatic history, according to company officials, with eight World Aerobatic Championships since 2009.
“Learning from our over 40 years of experience in development, manufacturing, and winning competitions, we’ve also taken the feedback from our pilots and owners in order to evolve the platform to make sure we continue to be at the leading edge of performance and ergonomics,” company officials said on the Extra Aircraft Facebook page. “The result is improved agility and crisp control feel that ensures the Extra 330SX will continue our track record of being at the top of the score sheets at a world competition level while also delivering awe-inspiring freestyle performances on the air show stage.”
The single-seat 330SX shares many characteristics with the Extra 300SC, including a steel fuselage, carbon fiber wings and tail, and a 315-hp Lycoming AEIO-580 engine.
Improvements include high-performance ailerons that “enhance roll rate and deliver crisper stops so our pilots can top the score sheets at contests and wow crowds on the air show stage,” company officials said.
“We’ve improved airflow with our cowling design to improve cooling through all parts of the flight envelope,” company officials continued. “We’ve also redesigned panels integrating an optimized leading-edge cuff to improve wing sealing and reliability.”
First deliveries are scheduled to begin in mid-2024, according to company officials.