The Extra EA-260 is a hand-built, single-seat

aerobatic aircraft An aerobatic aircraft is an aerodyne (a heavier-than-air aircraft) used in aerobatics, both for flight exhibitions and aerobatic competitions. Most fall into one of two categories, aircraft used for training and by flight demonstration teams, whic ...

derived from the Extra 230 and first flown in 1986. Designed by aerobatic pilot

Walter Extra Walter Extra is a German award-winning aerobatics, aerobatic pilot and chief aircraft designer who founded the aerobatic aircraft manufacturer Extra Flugzeugbau (Extra Aircraft Construction). Extra was trained as a mechanical engineer. He bega ...

based on the layout of the Extra 230, the Extra 260 is a higher performance version of its predecessor with 60% more power and 18% increase in weight. The first EA-260 was flown by

Patty Wagstaff Patty Wagstaff (née Patricia Rosalie Kearns Combs; born September 11, 1951) is an American aviator and U.S. national aerobatic champion. Wagstaff was introduced to aviation as a child; her father was a pilot for Japan Airlines. After gradua ...

to victory in two U.S. National Aerobatic Championships, in 1991 and 1992, and then retired to the

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums, Education center, education and Research institute, research centers, created by the Federal government of the United States, U.S. government "for the increase a ...

when she obtained an

Extra 300S The Extra Flugzeugbau EA300 is a two-seat aerobatic monoplane capable of Unlimited category competition. It was designed in 1987 by Walter Extra, a German aerobatic pilot, and built by Extra Flugzeugbau. Design and development Design of the ...

Design

The prototype Extra 260 is based on the design of the

Extra EA-230 __NOTOC__ The Extra 230 was a single-seat aerobatic aircraft developed in Germany in the early 1980s. Designed by aerobatic pilot Walter Extra based on the layout of the Laser 200 he was previously flying, the Extra 230 was a conventional (if sh ...

, and the two aircraft share many similarities. The Extra 260 has a

welded Welding is a fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, primarily by using high temperature to melt the parts together and allow them to cool, causing fusion. Common alternative methods include solvent w ...

steel Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon that demonstrates improved mechanical properties compared to the pure form of iron. Due to steel's high Young's modulus, elastic modulus, Yield (engineering), yield strength, Fracture, fracture strength a ...

tube fuselage covered in fabric with a carbon/glass hybrid composite

empennage The empennage ( or ), also known as the tail or tail assembly, is a structure at the rear of an aircraft that provides stability during flight, in a way similar to the feathers on an arrow.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, third ed ...

(i.e., the tail assembly, including the horizontal and vertical stabilizers, elevators, and rudder), and a bubble canopy. The

monocoque Monocoque ( ), also called structural skin, is a structural system in which loads are supported by an object's external skin, in a manner similar to an egg shell. The word ''monocoque'' is a French term for "single shell". First used for boats, ...

wings have a Polish pine wood spar with birch plywood skins. A symmetrical

airfoil An airfoil (American English) or aerofoil (British English) is a streamlined body that is capable of generating significantly more Lift (force), lift than Drag (physics), drag. Wings, sails and propeller blades are examples of airfoils. Foil (fl ...

, mounted with a zero angle of incidence, provides equal performance in both upright and inverted flight. The landing gear is fixed

taildragger Conventional landing gear, or tailwheel-type landing gear, is an aircraft undercarriage consisting of two main wheels forward of the center of gravity and a small wheel or skid to support the tail.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Term ...

style with composite main legs and fiberglass wheel pants. The

piston-engine A reciprocating engine, more often known as a piston engine, is a heat engine that uses one or more reciprocating pistons to convert high temperature and high pressure into a rotating motion. This article describes the common features of all ...

d powerplant is a

fuel-injected Fuel injection is the introduction of fuel in an internal combustion engine, most commonly automotive engines, by the means of a fuel injector. This article focuses on fuel injection in Reciprocating engine, reciprocating piston and Wankel eng ...

Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 and has a 4-bladed constant-speed MT composite propeller.

Operational history

The first EA260 built, Walter Extra's personal airplane and prototype, was donated to the

where it was at one time on display. Patty Wagstaff had ordered and paid for another plane just like the EA260, but the plane delivered was not the same and she declined it. This newer plane, larger and different, was the basis for versions of the EA260 referred to as the EA320 by Patty Wagstaff in her book Fire and Air. She arranged for a deal to trade the new plane and her old EA230 for Walter's personal plane.Fire and Air: A Life on the Edge: Wagstaff, Patty & Cooper,Ann Lewis pages 215-220 ISBN 1556523106 These are

registered Registered may refer to: * Registered mail, letters, packets or other postal documents considered valuable and in need of a chain of custody * Registered trademark symbol, symbol ® that provides notice that the preceding is a trademark or service ...

with the

Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government agency within the United States Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates civil aviation in t ...

in the US, one registered in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

with the Civil Aviation Authority and one registered in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

with the

Directorate General for Civil Aviation The Directorate General for Civil Aviation (, DGAC) is the French civil aviation authority. Its headquarters are in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, 50 Henry-Farman. It is subordinate to the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and E ...

, for a total of four.

Specifications (EA-260)

References

External links

* {{aerobatics 1980s German sport aircraft EA-260 Aerobatic aircraft Mid-wing aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1986 Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear Single-engined piston aircraft