Super STOL +speed!

Combining the takeoff and load-carrying performance of the Pilatus PC-6 Porter with hot-ship cruising speed, this new utility aircraft from Germany lives up to its claim to be the ‘ultimate STOL aircraft’

- Marino Boric

I never did manage to interview NF-aircraft CEO Frank Koinzer at a hot and humid AirVenture 2019 because he and his new aircraft, the Explorer were constantly besieged by the crowd. When I finally I got a chance to talk to him it was only briefly, to arrange a meeting at his home base in Germany.

Nine months later I’m at NFaircraft’s home at Flensburg (EDXF) the northernmost airport in Germany, located a stone’s throw from the Danish border. Despite the pandemic, I have been able to take advantage of first opportunity to inspect and fly the aircraft that had attracted so much attention at Oshkosh.

Like the Americans, I am impressed by the Explorer. The all-composite airframe is powered by a 689shp (shaft horsepower) Pratt & Whitney PT6A turbine and sits high on a fixed, tailwheel undercarriage that looks like that of the PZL Wilga. Despite its considerable size and stature, the Explorer exudes elegance and has every appearance of a mature design−and a marvelous finish. The Explorer will in fact be launched in the USA as an Experimental category kit, although the intention is to follow up with a factory-built certified version.

Product of a lifelong passion

Before we start, a word of warning: the German company and its product has absolutely nothing to do with Texas-based Explorer Aircraft and its similar looking models, the 500T and 750T. Many have had a problem with this confusion of names, including me (and me too−Ed!)