User:TSRL/sandbox/Alpi

The Alpi Pioneer series of light aircraft, the Pioneer 200, Pioneer 300 and Pioneer 400 is a development of the Vidor Champion V or Asso V, designed by Vidor Guiseppe. In 2014 the makers renamed them as Gamma Pioneer. The Gamma Pioneer 400 is the largest of them and seats four people rather than two. Quadrocentror (four hundred) is often included in the name.

The Pioneer 400 is a low wing monoplane, with a trapezoidal plan wing that has sweep only on the trailing edge and winglets at its tips. The wing structure is wooden with a single box-spar and is covered with prepreg carbon fibre. Ailerons occupy about half the span; inboard, slotted flaps fill the rest. Both ailerons and flaps are fabric covered.

The fuselage and empennage have a wooden structure and carbon fibre skin. The engine is 73.5 kW Rotax 912S flat-four, driving a variable pitch propeller. The cabin is over the wings, with two pairs of side-by-side seats. Entry is by two upward-opening doors and there is a baggage space behind the rear seats. At the rear the vertical surfaces are straight-edged and swept, with a long dorsal strake. The horizontal surfaces are approximately trapezoidal in plan, with an unswept leading edge.Both the rudder and elevators are fabric covered. The rudder is balanced and both it and the port elevator carry trim tabs.

The Pioneer has retractable tricycle landing gear though the nosewheel remains partially exposed when retracted. An emergency ballistic parachute is an option.