The Team Mini-MAX is a large family of single-seat, mid-wing,
strut
A strut is a structural component commonly found in engineering, aeronautics, architecture and anatomy. Struts generally work by resisting longitudinal compression, but they may also serve in tension.
Human anatomy
Part of the functionality o ...
-braced, single engine aircraft, available in kit form for
amateur construction. The first Mini-MAX had its first flight in 1984. Its name indicates its original design goals: a minimum-cost aircraft that requires a minimum of building space, time and skill, but which provides a maximum of enjoyment and performance.
[Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', page 268-271. BAI Communications. ][Downey, Julia: ''2008 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 57-58. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851][Downey, Julia: ''2002 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 18, Number 12, December 2001, pages 46-47. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851][Kitplanes Staff: ''1999 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 70-71. Primedia Publications. IPM 0462012][Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page B-40 Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ][Vandermeullen, Richard: ''2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide'', Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 57. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851]
The Mini-MAX family was originally produced by
TEAM Incorporated of
Bradyville, Tennessee
Bradyville is an unincorporated community
An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Mo ...
. After that company was bankrupted by a lawsuit, production passed to
Ison Aircraft also of Bradyville, Tennessee and next to
JDT Mini-MAX of
Nappanee, Indiana
Nappanee is a city in Elkhart County, Indiana, Elkhart and Kosciusko County, Indiana, Kosciusko counties in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 6,648 as of the 2010 United States census, 2010 U.S. Census and had grown to 6,913 by the 2 ...
. The company was renamed
Team Mini-Max LLC in 2012, with production in
Niles, Michigan
Niles is a city in Berrien and Cass counties in the U.S. state of Michigan, near the Indiana border city of South Bend. In 2010, the population was 11,600 according to the 2010 census. It is the larger, by population, of the two principal cit ...
.
Development
The Mini-MAX models are all predominantly constructed from wood truss with
plywood gussets and covered with doped
aircraft fabric
Aircraft fabric covering is a term used for both the material used and the process of covering aircraft open structures. It is also used for reinforcing closed plywood structures. The de Havilland Mosquito is an example of this technique, as are ...
. The construction time to complete a Mini-MAX varies depending on the model chosen. Many models feature open cockpits equipped with windshields. All versions feature a short-span wing of only , except the V-MAX and 1600R EROS, which have a wingspan. The wing and
horizontal stabilizer are both strut-braced: the wing is braced to the landing gear and the tail is braced from the horizontal tail surface to the fin. All models have
conventional landing gear
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 ...
, with
wheel pants
An aircraft fairing is a structure whose primary function is to produce a smooth outline and reduce drag.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, Third Edition'', page 206. Aviation Supplies & Academics Inc, Newcastle Washington, 1997. ...
as an option. Since the wing is braced to the mainwheels and the mainwheels are connected by a rigid axle, the pneumatic tires provide the only suspension.
The aircraft was originally intended to meet the requirements of the US
FAR 103 ''Ultralight Vehicles'' category, including that category's maximum empty weight. The original ultralight models of the Mini-MAX were equipped with the
Rotax 277
The Rotax 277 is a , single-cylinder, two-stroke aircraft engine, that was built by BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG of Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Euro ...
engine to achieve acceptable empty weights. Today the 1030F MAX 103 and 1100F Mini-MAX achieve an acceptable ''FAR 103'' empty weight if they are equipped with the
Hirth F-33 powerplant. Other models use heavier engines which place them in the US ''Experimental - Amateur-built'' category.
The Mini-MAX was also developed into a high winged version, called the
Hi-MAX. The two designs share much in the way of parts and design concept commonality.
Variants
;1030F MAX-103
:Single seat, open cockpit, mid-wing aircraft with the
Hirth F-33 engine. Still in production. Manufacturer claimed construction time 300-350 hours.
;1030R MAX-103
:Single seat, open cockpit, mid-wing aircraft with the
Rotax 277
The Rotax 277 is a , single-cylinder, two-stroke aircraft engine, that was built by BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG of Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Euro ...
. First flight 1993, out of production, replaced by the 1030F. Manufacturer claimed construction time 350 hours. 250 completed and flown by 2011.
;1100F Mini-MAX
:Single seat, open cockpit, mid-wing aircraft with the
Hirth F-33 engine. Still in production. Manufacturer claimed construction time 250-300 hours.
;1100R Mini-MAX
:Single seat, open cockpit, mid-wing aircraft with the
Rotax 447
The Rotax 447 is a , inline 2-cylinder, two-stroke aircraft engine, built by BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG of Austria for use in ultralight aircraft.Raisner, William: ''LEAF catlog'', pages 6-105. Leading Edge Airfoils, 1995.
Design and development
...
engine. First flight 1984, still in production. Manufacturer claimed construction time 250-300 hours. 600 completed and flown by 2011.
;1200Z Z-MAX
:Single seat, open cockpit, mid-wing aircraft with the
Zenoah G-50 engine. First flight 1991, out of production. Manufacturer claimed construction time 350 hours. 124 completed and flown by 2001. As this is a US aircraft the name is pronounced "Zee-Max".
;1300Z Z-MAX
:Single seat, enclosed cockpit, mid-wing aircraft with the
Zenoah G-50 engine. First flight 1990, out of production. Manufacturer claimed construction time 400 hours. 231 completed and flown by 2001. As this is a US aircraft the name is pronounced "Zee-Max".
;1500R Sport
:Single seat, open cockpit, mid-wing aircraft with the
Rotax 447
The Rotax 447 is a , inline 2-cylinder, two-stroke aircraft engine, built by BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG of Austria for use in ultralight aircraft.Raisner, William: ''LEAF catlog'', pages 6-105. Leading Edge Airfoils, 1995.
Design and development
...
engine. First flight 1987, still in production. Manufacturer claimed construction time 300-350 hours. 200 completed and flown by 2011.
;1550V V-MAX
:Single seat, open cockpit, mid-wing aircraft with the
Volkswagen air-cooled engine
The Volkswagen air-cooled engine is an air-cooled, gasoline-fuelled, boxer engine with four horizontally opposed cast-iron cylinders, cast aluminum alloy cylinder heads and pistons, magnesium-alloy crankcase, and forged steel crankshaft and ...
and wingspan. First flight 1993, still in production. Manufacturer claimed construction time 325-400 hours. 250 completed and flown by 2011.
;1600R Sport
:Single seat, enclosed cockpit, mid-wing aircraft with the
Rotax 447
The Rotax 447 is a , inline 2-cylinder, two-stroke aircraft engine, built by BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG of Austria for use in ultralight aircraft.Raisner, William: ''LEAF catlog'', pages 6-105. Leading Edge Airfoils, 1995.
Design and development
...
. First flight 1989, still in production. Manufacturer claimed construction time 325-400 hours. 315 completed and flown by 2011.
;1650R EROS
:Single seat, enclosed cockpit, mid-wing aircraft with the
Rotax 503
The Rotax 503 is a , inline 2-cylinder, two-stroke aircraft engine, built by BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG of Austria for use in ultralight aircraft.Raisner, William: ''LEAF catlog'', pages 6-105. Leading Edge Airfoils, 1995.
As of 2011 the Rot ...
and wingspan. Still in production. Manufacturer claimed construction time 325-400 hours. 300 completed and flown by 2011.
Specifications (1650R EROS)
See also
References
External links
*
{{JDT Mini-MAX
1980s United States ultralight aircraft
Single-engined tractor aircraft
Mid-wing aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1984