Production and Manufacturer History
The Frontier MD-2 (also referred to as the MD-II) was an obscure American homebuilt kit aircraft introduced during the 1990s. The aircraft was designed and supplied by Frontier Aircraft Inc., a company based in Vail, Colorado, United States. Production was extremely limited; by 1998, the manufacturer reported that only two kits had been sold, with two aircraft completed and flying. There is no evidence of factory-built or turn-key production, as the model was offered exclusively as an experimental kit for private builders.
Design and Technical Specifications
Designed as a two-seat, side-by-side, low-wing aircraft, the MD-2 was optimized for a balance of low-speed handling and cross-country efficiency. The airframe measures 27 feet 6 inches in length with a wingspan of 32 feet and a height of 6 feet 6 inches. Its wing area is 180 square feet, resulting in a wing loading of 11.3 lb/sq ft at its gross weight of 2,040 lb. The aircraft has an empty weight of 1,150 lb and a useful load of 890 lb. Fuel capacity is listed at 44 U.S. gallons, which allows for a payload of 626 lb for the pilot, passenger, and baggage when fuel tanks are full.
Powerplant and Performance
The MD-2 is powered by a single Avia M 332 engine, a Czechoslovak-manufactured four-cylinder, inverted, air-cooled, supercharged inline piston engine producing 140 hp. This powerplant enables a maximum speed of 184 mph (160 kn) and a cruise speed of 140 mph (120 kn). Notably, the aircraft features a very low stall speed of 30 mph (26 kn) when flaps are deployed, indicating a design focused on short-field capability. Other performance metrics include a range of 690 miles, a service ceiling of 16,000 feet, and a rate of climb of 1,200 ft/min.
Service and Legacy
Intended for private general aviation use, the MD-2 saw no military or commercial service. Due to its limited production and experimental status, there are no records of scheduled charter or airline operations. By December 2013, a registry check indicated that no examples of the aircraft remained registered with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), suggesting that the few existing airframes were either destroyed, exported, or became inactive. No preserved examples are known to exist in museums.