Mustang Aeronautics Midget Mustang
| Midget Mustang | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| MM-1 | |
| Role | Aerobatic sports plane |
| Manufacturer | Mustang Aeronautics for Homebuilding |
| Designer | David Long |
| First flight | 1948 |
| Number built | 435 (2011)[1] |
| Unit cost |
approximately $2720 to build in 1971[2] |
The Mustang Aeronautics Midget Mustang MM-1 is a single-seat aerobatic sports airplane developed and marketed in the United States for homebuilding.[1][3] It is also known as the Long Midget. It was the predecessor to the Mustang II which is also known as the Bushby Mustang.
Development
It is a low-wing cantilever monoplane of metal construction and most are fitted with fixed tailwheel undercarriage. Developed by Piper engineer David Long in 1948, plans for production by Schweizer were underway at the time of Long's death two years later. All rights and tooling were purchased by Robert Bushby in 1959, who built a 90hp Continental powered example and sold plans and kits until 1992.[4] the rights were then sold to Mustang Aeronautics. The Midget Mustang design being marketed in 2007 is similar to the original, with the addition of an optional bubble canopy replacing the straight line of the upper tailcone and sliding canopy of Long's original design.
Construction requires about 1000 hours of builder time.[5]
The lightweight construction of primary 2024T3 Aluminum, ensuring a light and stable aircraft
Operational history
The Midget Mustang was intended for air racing. David Long designed an aircraft for a friend to be used in the Cleveland Air Race in 1948. That aircraft was built by Long and was named "Pea Shooter". The Midget Mustang was only moderately successful as a race plane. However, its appearance and desirable flight characteristics made it an ideal sport plane. At the Cleveland Race, racers competed in aircraft with names like, "Mammy","Miss Fort Worth", and "Slo Poke". Over time, air racers modified the aircraft to reach 181 mph (291 km/h) speeds in competition.[6] Nowadays, the Midget Mustang can cruise at 240 mph.
Variants
- Midget Mustang
- "GG"
- A tricyle gear modification[7]
- Graham Super Midget
- Features a manually retracted landing gear.[8]
Specifications (MM-1-125)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83[9]
General characteristics
- Crew: One pilot
- Length: 16 ft 5 in (5.00 m)
- Wingspan: 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m)
- Height: 4 ft 6 in (1.37 m)
- Wing area: 68 ft2 (6.32 m2)
- Empty weight: 590 lb (268 kg)
- Gross weight: 900 lb (408 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-290-D2, 135 hp (101 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 225 mph (362 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 165 mph (265[10] km/h)
- Range: 375 miles (603 km)
- Service ceiling: 19,000 ft (5,790 m)
- Rate of climb: 2,200 ft/min (11.2 m/s)
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Vandermeullen, Richard: 2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 62. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- ↑ Leo J. Kohn (Winter 1971). "The true cost of building your own plane". Air Trails: 63.
- ↑ Air Trails: 78. Winter 1971. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ "EAA Fly-In". Flying Magazine: 36. November 1960.
- ↑ Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 112. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
- ↑ Don Berliner (July 1959). "PROFESSIONAL RACE PILOTS ASSOCIATION RACING ALBUM The Long Midgets". Sport Aviation.
- ↑ Air Trails: 11. Summer 1971. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ Air Progress Sport Aircraft: 72. Winter 1969. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ Taylor 1982, pp. 532–533.
- ↑ econ cruise
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Long Midget Mustang. |
- Taylor, John W. R. (1982). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 225.
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1977-78. London: Jane's Yearbooks. p. 530.
- Manufacturer's website
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