__NOTOC__ The SME Aero Tiga, originally the Dätwyler MD-3 Swiss Trainer is a

trainer aircraft A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate flight training of pilots and aircrews. The use of a dedicated trainer aircraft with additional safety features—such as tandem flight controls, forgiving flight characteristic ...

developed in

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

through the 1960s and 70s, and which first flew in 1983.

History

In 1993, all rights to the design were acquired by

SME Aerospace The SME Aerospace Sdn Bhd (SMEA), is a Malaysian defence company in aerospace section that specialises in the manufacturing of aircraft and its parts. The company is located in Sungai Buloh, Selangor and it is a subsidiary company of National Aer ...

, who began to produce it as the Aero Tiga shortly thereafter, having received orders for 20 by the

Royal Malaysian Air Force The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF, ; Jawi alphabet, Jawi: ) was formed on 2 June 1958 as the Royal Federation of Malaya Air Force (; ). However, its roots can be traced back to the Malayan Auxiliary Air Force formations of the British Royal A ...

. The first two of these were delivered in 1995, and the order was increased to 60 aircraft the following year. SME Aerospace also received orders for 20 aircraft for the Indonesian government's flight training center at Curug, as part of a deal by the Malaysian government to acquire IPTN CN-235 transports.

Design and development

In configuration, the Swiss Trainer is a mid-wing,

cantilever A cantilever is a rigid structural element that extends horizontally and is unsupported at one end. Typically it extends from a flat vertical surface such as a wall, to which it must be firmly attached. Like other structural elements, a cantilev ...

monoplane with fixed spatted tricycle undercarriage. Accommodation for the pilot and instructor was provided as side-by-side seats under an expansive

bubble canopy A bubble canopy is an aircraft canopy constructed without bracing, for the purpose of providing a wider unobstructed field of view to the pilot, often providing 360° all-round visibility. The designs of bubble canopies can vary drastically; so ...

. The four-cylinder horizontally opposed

piston engine A reciprocating engine, more often known as a piston engine, is a heat engine that uses one or more Reciprocating motion, reciprocating pistons to convert high temperature and high pressure into a Circular motion, rotating motion. This article ...

drove a fixed two-blade propeller. While the layout of the aircraft was entirely orthodox, its construction was not, as the Swiss Trainer was designed to be as modular as possible to lower the cost and complexity of production and maintenance. To this end, as many parts were made interchangeable as possible. For example, all nine control surfaces (two ailerons, four flap segments, two elevators, and the rudder) are the same part that can be fitted to any of these locations with minimal modification. Both halves of the horizontal stabiliser and the fin can similarly be interchanged, and most of the left and right wings is common to both.''Air International'' March 1984, p. 154. The aircraft features an unusual exhaust that spans the entire length of the underside of the fuselage. Entry is through a forward sliding canopy that also includes the wing root fairing.

Operators

; * Indonesian Civil Aviation Institute ( id) – 20 in service ; *

– 20 (retired)

Specifications (MD3-160 AeroTiga)

References

* * * * * * * * * * * {{Dätwyler aircraft 1980s Swiss civil trainer aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft Mid-wing aircraft

History

Design and development

Operators

Specifications (MD3-160 AeroTiga)

See also

References