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| The reason for this Extra 400 page is that I particulary like this aircraft since I took my part in analysing the structural lay-out of this plane at the University of Aachen. My special calculations were focused on the front portside passenger window and included a finite-element analysis using a Hewlett-Packard workstation, series 9000, model 735 with 576 Megs of RAM and a lot of hard disk space... |
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| The Extra 400 is built by EXTRA Flugzeugbau GmbH (EXTRA Aircraft Manufacturing Company), the same company that built the most succesful 200 and 300 series aerobatic planes. |
| This latest EXTRA aircraft is a completely new design with a pressurized cabin and it is made of composite materials. The Extra 400 is powered by a liquid cooled engine, equipped with fowler flaps and retractable landing gear. |
| Prototype certification was given in early 1996 with its maiden flight in April that year. Meanwhile the Extra 400s basic design has been certified in accordance to the Federal Aviation Regulations FAR23. |
| Company | EXTRA Flugzeugbau GmbH |
| Flugplatz Dinslaken, 46569 Dinslaken, Germany |
| Wingspan | 11.50 m |  |
| Length | 9.39 m | |
| Heigth | 3.09 m | |
| Wingarea | 14.25 sqm | |
| Cabinheigth | 1.24 m | |
| Cabinwidth | 1.39 m | |
| Cabinlength | 4.12 m | |
| Seats | 6 | |
| Empty Weigth | 1206 kg | |
| max. Take-Off Weigth | 1950 kg | |
| Max. Payload | 744 kg | |
| Fuel Capacity | 470 liters |
 | Engine | Teledyne Continental |
| TSIOL 550-A, 350 hp | ||
| Max. Climbrate | 6.7 m/sec. | |
| Max. Speed | 259 kts | |
| Cruisespeed | 243 kts | |
| Range with 6 People | 1700 km | |
| Range with 5 People | 2600 km | |
| Ceiling | 7620 m |
| 3-Side-View of an Extra 400: |  |
Earlier models of the Extra 400 had the additional ventral fin removed and upwards
wing-lets. Clearly visible is the "clean" shape of the aircraft without ugly
air inlets, antennas, gear boxes etc. According to EXTRA, the Extra 400 has excellent flight
characteristics and is responding light and responsive on the controls. On its first airshow
appearance on April 26, 1997 at Friedrichshafen, Germany, the 400 performed a fine flying
display and even flew a barrel roll at low altitude.  |
| August 28, 1998: The first EXTRA 400 crashes! On this day the first EXTRA 400 from serial production was handed over to the first customer. On the day before and on the day of first flight the new owner had been instructed on how to fly and handle the new aircraft. The take-off took place in fairly bad weather under difficult IFR conditions. And then, about 20 minutes after take-off the aircraft crashed killing the pilot. Impact occured at a dive-angle of 75 degrees. Investigations by the German Civil Aviation bureau have begun: Pilot error is said to have been the cause for the fatal crash. |
| Good News: Serial Production has started. According to press releases in German aerospace magazines the serial production of the EXTRA 400 has begun. Aircraft no. 3 was delivered to a customer in northern Germany at the end of 1998 and by now nos. 4 and 5 are said to be on the assembly line. |
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