Bristell TDO
Tailwheel by
conviction.
A low-wing taildragger built for classic stick-and-rudder flying: heavy-duty wing spars, the widest cockpit in its class and short-field manners on the roughest grass.
155 KTAS
Max speed
130 cm
Cabin width
600 kg
Max take-off
UL / LSA
Category
Overview
The Tail Dragger Option.
Built by BRM Aero, the Bristell TDO is the low-wing taildragger in the family, a fixed two-wheel main gear and conventional tailwheel for pilots who fly by feel. It ships standard with heavy-duty (HD) wing spars for confidence in demanding weather, and pairs that ruggedness with the most spacious cabin in its category: 130 cm of shoulder room. Honest backcountry character, modern Bristell comfort.
About
Flown by feel, on any strip.
The TDO is for pilots who fly with their hands and feet. Its conventional tailwheel gear puts you back in touch with classic stick-and-rudder flying, where every landing is yours to make. Settle into the widest cockpit in its class, 130 cm across, and the controls fall naturally to hand for hours at a time.
Heavy-duty wing spars come standard, so the airframe is built for demanding weather and harder backcountry work. Effective flaps and a light, robust build give it honest short-field manners on grass and unimproved strips, and with the Rotax 915 iS it still reaches up to 155 KTAS when you point it at the horizon.
Highlights
Classic gear, modern comfort.
From conventional tailwheel gear and heavy-duty wing spars to the widest cabin in its class, every detail is chosen to make the TDO rugged, honest and rewarding to fly.
A true taildragger
Conventional tailwheel gear with a fixed two-wheel main: the classic stance for stick-and-rudder flying and rough, unimproved strips.
HD wing spars, standard
Heavy-duty reinforced wing spars come standard: extra safety margin for demanding weather and harder backcountry work.
The widest cockpit in its class
130 cm of shoulder room: the most spacious cabin in the category, comfortable for hours at the stick.
At home on grass
Effective flaps and a light, robust airframe give the TDO genuine short-field manners: built for grass runways and tight pads.
Rotax power, your choice
Four Rotax options, from the 912 ULS (100 HP) to the turbocharged 916 iS (160 HP) for up to 155 KTAS, on Avgas or Mogas.
Aluminium & composite build
A blend of aluminium structure and composite panels keeps the TDO light, strong and easy to live with, flight after flight.
Interior
Room to fly, hours on end.
At 130 cm across, the TDO cabin is the widest in its class: ergonomic, airy and comfortable for long days. Trim it to order: your materials, your colours, your cockpit, finished with Bristell craftsmanship.
A glass panel, adjustable rudder pedals and a robust airframe make the TDO an easy aircraft to live with, whether you fly local circuits or load up for a weekend on a backcountry strip.
Full glass panel
GPS · NAV · ADS-B
Integrated autopilot
Performance
The numbers that matter.
Figures on the Rotax 915 iS: quick, efficient, and honest off short, unimproved strips.
With up to 155 KTAS on tap and 240 kg of useful load, the TDO covers ground quickly when you want to travel and still slows down to work the shortest of strips.
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Max speed
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Rate of climb
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Useful load
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Max take-off
Technical Specifications
Every detail, on record.
Full dimensions, weights, performance and equipment for the TDO, across all four Rotax engine options.
Dimensions
- Wingspan
- 9.13 m / 29 ft 11 in
- Length
- 6.45 m / 21 ft 2 in
- Cabin width
- 130 cm / 51.2 in
- Configuration
- Low-wing, taildragger
- Seats
- 2
Weights & Capacity
- Max take-off weight
- 600 kg / 1,323 lbs
- Empty weight (915 iS)
- 360 kg / 794 lbs
- Useful load (912 ULS)
- 280 kg / 617 lbs
- Useful load (915 iS)
- 240 kg / 529 lbs
- Fuel capacity
- 120 L / 31.7 gal
Performance
- Max speed (912 ULS)
- 130 KTAS / 241 km/h
- Max speed (912 iS)
- 125 KTAS / 232 km/h
- Max speed (915 iS)
- 155 KTAS / 287 km/h
- Max speed (916 iS)
- 155 KTAS / 287 km/h
- Rate of climb
- 1,100 – 1,950 ft/min
- Load factor
- +4 / −2 g
Powerplant
- Engine option 1
- Rotax 912 ULS · 100 HP
- Engine option 2
- Rotax 912 iS · 100 HP
- Engine option 3
- Rotax 915 iS · 141 HP
- Engine option 4
- Rotax 916 iS · 160 HP (turbo)
- Landing gear
- Taildragger (conventional)
Avionics
- Analog flight and engine instruments, or full glass
- Dual Garmin G3X Touch glass cockpit
- Garmin AXIS integrated flight display
- Garmin GMC 507 autopilot with Blue LEVEL button
- Garmin GTN 650Xi navigator
- Not certified for IFR or Night VFR
Safety & Equipment
- Heavy-duty wing spars, standard
- BRS whole-aircraft parachute (option)
- 4-point AmSafe restraints on premium leather seats
- Dual control sticks, centre-stick layout
- Bubble canopy for all-round visibility
- 55 kg luggage — two wing lockers plus rear storage
Gallery
From every angle.
A closer look at the TDO in its element, photographed in flight over lakes, forests and open countryside.
Bristell TDO
Your TDO starts here.
Fly it before you buy it, book a demo flight, or start building your own configuration today.
Starting from $300,000 · final price depends on configuration