Mitchell U-2 Superwing

Mitchell U-2 Superwing
A Mitchell U-2 superwing at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Role Ultralight aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Mitchell Wing Company
Designer Don Mitchell
First flight 1980
Status Plans available
Unit cost $5500 US average materials cost + instruments & engine
Variants AmeriPlanes Mitchell Wing A-10

The Mitchell U-2 Superwing is an American flying wing ultralight aircraft that was designed by Don Mitchell for amateur construction.[1]

Contents

Design and development

The aircraft was designed before the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules came into force, but comply with them anyway, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 240 lb (109 kg). It features a cantilever mid-wing, a single-seat enclosed cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration. The U-2 is a development of the high-wing B-10.[1]

The aircraft fuselage is made from welded steel tube, while the wing is of wood and foam, with doped aircraft fabric covering. Its 34 ft (10.4 m) span wing employs a modified Wortmann FX05-191 airfoil. The flight controls are unconventional; pitch and roll are controlled by elevons and yam is controlled by the wing tip rudders. The mian landing gear has suspension and the nose wheel is steerable and equipped with a brake.[1][2]

Specifications (U-2)

Data from Cliche[1]

General characteristics

Performance

References

  1. ^ a b c d Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page E-259. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
  2. ^ Lednicer, David (2010). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html. Retrieved 1 September 2011. 

External links

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era