MXS Aircraft Mxs

Single Piston

The MX2 is a purpose-built unlimited aerobatic competition aircraft designed by German aerobatic pilot and engineer Matthias Dolderer and manufactured by MXS Aircraft. First flown in 2003, the single-seat monoplane was engineered specifically for the demands of modern competitive aerobatics, featuring a carbon-fiber composite airframe optimized for extreme maneuverability and structural strength under sustained high-G loads. Powered by a 315-horsepower Lycoming AEIO-540 six-cylinder engine driving a constant-speed propeller, the MX2 delivers exceptional roll rates exceeding 400 degrees per second and can sustain loads from +10G to -10G, making it one of the most agile piston-powered aircraft ever certified. The type gained international prominence in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, where pilots like Kirby Chambliss, Nigel Lamb, and Dolderer himself flew MX2s to multiple podium finishes and championships between 2005 and 2019. Its lightweight construction (empty weight around 950 pounds) and powerful engine yield a thrust-to-weight ratio that rivals many military trainers, enabling vertical maneuvers and snap rolls that would overstress conventional aerobatic designs. The MX2 remains a favorite among professional airshow performers and serious aerobatic competitors, though its unforgiving handling characteristics and high operating costs keep the global fleet small and exclusive. SkyMeter has tracked 19 flights across 5 airframes and 5 operators, with TAYLOR DAVID CLARK the largest observed operator.