De Bernardi M.d.B. 02 Aeroscooter

having developed the all-metal single-seat Partenavia Aeroscooter earlier, Mario de Bernardi sought to improve the design as the two-seat M.d.B. 02 Aeroscooter was developed as a aircraft to be built by CAP in Bergamo, Italy.[1]

The Aeroscooter is a low-wing, two-seat monoplane. The partial welded steel tube fuselage uses aluminum skins. The wing uses a wood spar. The tricycle landing gear uses trailing link suspension. The single-piece plexiglas canopy slides forward to open. All fuel is housed in the 20 L (5.28 US gal; 4.40 imp gal) header tank and 50 L (13.21 US gal; 11.00 imp gal) main tank behind the passenger's seat.

The prototype was built by De Bernardi with the assistance of two mechanics. In April 1959, De Bernardi died of a heart attack after flying a demonstration of the prototype at Rome Urbe Airport.[1]

An example is on display at Museo Aeronautico Caproni di Taledo, Milano.[2]

The daughter of De Bernardi is offering plans for a modernized version of the Aeroscooter using a Rotax 912UL engine to be flown under Italian microlight category.[3]

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59,[4] The Aircraft of the World[5]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 5.5 m (18 ft 1 in)
• Wingspan: 9.5 m (31 ft 2 in)
• Height: 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
• Wing area: 8.300 m² (89.34 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 260 kg (573 lb)
• Gross weight: 460 kg (1,014 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 60 L (15.85 US gal; 13.20 imp gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Agusta GA.70/0 4-cylinder horizontally-opposed piston engine, 62 kW (83 hp)
• Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 210 km/h (130 mph, 110 kn)
• Cruise speed: 190 km/h (120 mph, 100 kn)
• Stall speed: 50 km/h (31 mph, 27 kn)
• Range: 600 km (370 mi, 320 nmi)
• Rate of climb: 6 m/s (1,200 ft/min) at sea level
  
• Take-off run: 50 m (164 ft)
• Landing run: 50 m (164 ft)

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Erco Ercoupe