Z-602-600

The Roland Z-602-600 is the 600 kg version of Roland Aircraft's all-metal low-wing ultralight from Mendig, Germany. It is covered by DULV type data sheet 997-23, first issued on 1 March 2023 (last amended 18 June 2024), held by Roland Aircraft, Am Flugplatz 12, 56743 Mendig, under the LTF-UL of 15 January 2019. Each propeller combination has its own series – 997-23 1 for the two-blade RA CFK V100, 997-23 4 for the three-blade RA CFK V100 (E) – all with the Rotax 912 ULS.

What stands out is how undramatic the uprating was: a factory-standard Z-602 passed the 600 kg structural test with no additional reinforcement at all, the manufacturer reported in July 2018, and fliegermagazin 7/2021 quotes the company saying everything simply fitted for 600 kg MTOM – not a single part had to be changed, only a new rescue system was required. The 600 kg apply exclusively with the Junkers Magnum 601 (data sheet no. R10/18-1); with the older Junkers Magnum Light Speed Softpack / Magnum 501 (R28/05-8) the limit stays at 540 kg. The data sheet quotes a weighed empty mass of 310 to 330 kg, which leaves roughly 270 to 290 kg of payload including fuel at 600 kg MTOM – the individual aircraft's weighing report is always binding. The manufacturer quotes more favourable figures of 300 kg with, or 285 kg without, the rescue system in base configuration, while the data sheet requires a minimum payload of 70 kg. In France MTOM is 525 kg.

Certified figures are VNE 243 km/h, 225 km/h at maximum continuous power, VA 173 km/h, VFE 153 km/h and a stall speed VS0 of 76.3 km/h, with a climb rate of 5.3 m/s at Vy 120 km/h. Depending on equipment the manufacturer quotes 230 to 243 km/h top speed, 200 to 230 km/h cruise at 4,800 rpm, a 160 m takeoff and landing ground roll at MTOW and a service ceiling above 12,000 ft. With 2 x 80 litres in the wing tanks, an in-flight adjustable propeller and a cabin about 1.15 m wide, this is a full-grown touring ultralight. Roland Aircraft deliberately sticks with the carburetted 912 ULS: the 141 hp 915iS is considered too heavy and too expensive, and there is no demand for the 100 hp injected version.

Strengths: 600 kg MTOM giving roughly 270 to 290 kg of certified payload, genuine cruise speed, 160 litres of fuel, a proven metal airframe, simple systems and a factory you can actually talk to. Weaknesses: the 600 kg rating is tied to the Junkers Magnum 601, so a system swap on a used purchase costs money and needs budgeting. The data sheet states safe load factors of +4 g / −2 g while the manufacturer's own spec page claims 6 / −6; only the certified figure is official. There are no documented range, fuel burn or over-obstacle takeoff figures. Noise depends heavily on the propeller: 61.5 dB(A) for the three-blade series 997-23 4, but 68.5 dB(A) for the two-blade series 997-23 1 – both above the 58.0 to 59.9 dB(A) of the lighter series. And pilots without tailwheel experience should stay with the nosewheel version.

The Z-602-600 is aimed at pilots who want to fly two-up with luggage and full tanks legally, without moving to composite airframes and glass-cockpit complexity. Roland listings on ul-flugzeugmarkt.de range from €33,000 to €99,000 – the young 600 kg aircraft naturally sit at the upper end of that range.