The Backcountry features a strut-braced high-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit with doors for access, fixed conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.[1] [2] [3]
The aircraft fuselage is made from welded 4130 steel tubing, while the wing is of aluminum construction, with all surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric. Its 301NaN1 span wing has an area of 123square feet and flaperons. The Backcountry was designed to use the 1000NaN0 Stratus EA 81 automotive conversion four-stroke powerplant.[1] [2] [3]
The improvements over the Avid design include redesigning the aircraft to comply with the European Joint Aviation Requirements at a gross weight of 14000NaN0, including stretching the fuselage by 160NaN0, changing the main landing gear legs to aluminum gear with a track of 741NaN1, increasing the angle of the windshield, simplifying the control system and designing a differential flaperon system, redesigning the structure in the cockpit area to improve baggage access, adding new seats, increasing cockpit headroom and legroom, introducing wider cockpit doors and more cockpit width, modifying the tailwheel spring for more strength and designing a new engine cowling to accommodate the Subaru engine and other engine designs.[3] [5]
The company also offered a conversion kit for existing Mk IVs.[1] [3]