Special Light-Sport Aircraft #154 — Welcome to Montaer’s MC01 from Brazil

Welcome our newest entry to the Special LSA fleet: Montaer’s MC01. It’s been added to our SLSA List that so many of you visit regularly.

In a way, you already know this aircraft or at least its look-a-like predecessor, Paradise’s P1NG. As happens in every industry, a key engineer left a family airplane building business — Paradise, run by granddad, Noe de Oliveira — and started his own aircraft factory. The departure occurred eight years ago.

Now, Bruno de Oliveira has won FAA acceptance of his Special LSA model. Brazil uses ASTM standards as well so he also got approval in the South American country.

Importer Ed Ricks of Montaer USA hoped to make it to the Midwest LSA Expo in late summer 2020, but we know all-too well how strange last year was. Many hoped-for gatherings simply fell apart in the year of Covid.

Please Welcome
Montaer MC01

It’s easy to see the visual relationship between MC01 and Paradise’s P1NG. While the new model bears a close resemblance to the earlier SLSA, that former LSA is no longer represented in the U.S. market — although several models sold earlier continue to operate.

With his MC01, Bruno and Montaer are filling a void.

Both models veered away from the uber-common joystick seen on most Light-Sport Aircraft. Yet yoke control has a large global following as Cessna, Piper, Beech, Mooney, and more all use yokes. Since those brands trained most Yankee pilots, it makes sense to offer them a control already familiar to so many pilots.

MC01 also continues with a very popular feature: a voluminous baggage area accessed by a third door. Jabiru’s J230-D has a third door but this is both very uncommon and very welcome. The Jabiru model has three doors as the large-interior-volume LSA was based on a four seater from the home country of Australia. Bruno’s door simply makes access to the spacious rear area (photos) but it varies a bit from the Paradise execution. MC01’s door is on the right where P1NG had it on the left.

MC01 causes many observers to see a LSA that resembles a Cessna 150 but, of course, the LSA is larger and performs with substantially more energy.

The very first U.S. delivery of MC01 is headed to Wisconsin where a pilot has ordered one with a very special extra: hand controls, a choice available to offer assistance to some pilots. That airplane is due to leave Brazil in March and may be seen at EAA’s big summer show.

MC01’s airframe is built using 4130 molybdenum steel tube (photo) providing a proven safety to the occupants. The exterior is all aeronautical aluminum fuselage and wings. A steerable nose wheel, dual toe brakes, and control yokes are just some of the features of this well built airplane.

Fortunately, if you make the trip to Florida for Sun ‘n Fun 2021 — April 13-18 — you can look over MC01 in detail in the light aircraft area. Ed Ricks plans a special introductory price that can save thousands so check that out if this airplane looks as good to you as it does to me.

Ed started selling ultralights in Arizona when Light-Sport Aircraft first arrived on the aviation stage. Since 2005 he represented Jabiru, Skyboy, and Paradise. He operates out of the Glendale, Arizona municipal airport (KGEU).

Ed has known Bruno de Oliveira for eight years and will be in charge of sales in the USA. He is seeking dealers in certain states; if this interests you or if you want more details before Sun ‘n Fun, call Ed at 623-695-9040 or send him email.

Fully loaded with Garmin G3X 10-inch touch screen, G3X autopilot, and G-5 primary flight display back up, MC01 is priced at $145,000.

Montaer MC01 Special LSA
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Wing Span — 28 feet 10 inches
• Wing Area — 124 square feet
• Length — 21 feet
• Empty Weight — 855 pounds (varies with options)
• Useful Load — 465 pounds
• Fuel Capacity — 37 gallons
• Range — 780 nautical miles
• Cruise Speed — 120 miles per hour
• Never-Exceed Speed — 137 miles per hour
• Stall Speed (best flaps) — 45 miles per hour

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