Marabou stork of any landbird, to rival the Andean condor; more typically, however, these storks measure across the wings, which is about a foot less than the average Andean condor wingspan and nearly two feet less than the average of the largest albatrosses and pelicans. Typical weight is , unusually as low as , and length (from bill to tail) is . Females are smaller than males. Bill length can range from . Unlike most storks, the three "Leptoptilos" species fly with the neck retracted like a heron. The marabou is unmistakable due to its size, bare head and neck, black back,
IAE VUT Marabou and the vertical tail are composite. Seats are in tandem with the forward one well ahead of the wing and the raised rear seat just forward of its leading edge. The canopy, with a smooth and rising profile, is divided into two single-piece transparencies. A 60 kW (80 hp) Rotax 912 flat-four engine is mounted immediately behind and above the rear seat in pusher configuration. The fuselage is a wholly composite structure. The Marabou has a low tricycle undercarriage with fuselage-mounted, glass reinforced plastic cantilever mainlegs. The nosewheel is steerable and the mainwheels have hydraulic brakes. The first flight was