Rutan Boomerang

Boomerang
Role Experimental light aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Scaled Composites
Designer Burt Rutan
Number built 1


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The Rutan Model 202 Boomerang is an aircraft designed and built by Burt Rutan. The design was intended to be a multi-engine aircraft that in the event of failure of a single engine would not become dangerously difficult to control due to asymmetric thrust. The result is an asymmetrical aircraft with a very distinct appearance.

Design and development

The seemingly stark, unfinished interior of the Rutan Boomerang. Although flown extensively by Rutan as a fully functioning airplane, the interior was never furnished. Seen at EAA AirVenture 2011
Boomerang with both doors open

The Boomerang was designed around the specifications of the Beechcraft Baron 58, one of the best known and most numerous twin-engine civilian aircraft. The use of the asymmetrical design allows the Boomerang to fly faster and farther than the Baron using the same engines, and seating the same number of occupants.[1] The Boomerang is powered by two engines, with the right engine producing 10 hp (8 kW) more power than the left one (the engines are in fact the same model, just rated differently). The wings are forward-swept.[2]

In 1997, avionics entrepreneur Ray Morrow and his son, Neil Morrow, founded an air taxi company. They settled on a modified version of Rutan's Boomerang design, which they designated the MB-300. They determined that the best business approach would be to manufacture the aircraft and run the air taxi services themselves. So Ray Morrow founded Morrow Aircraft Corporation in order to design and manufacture the MB-300. In the meantime, they started the SkyTaxi company using Cessna 414s as interim aircraft.[3] In 1999, Morrow Aircraft Corporation applied to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States for a type certificate for the MB-300. In 2000, the FAA published a notice seeking comments on Morrow Aircraft's proposal to use an electronic engine control system (FADEC) in place of the engine's mechanical system.[4]

Rutan's Boomerang was restored to flying condition in 2011 and made an appearance at Oshkosh that year as part of the Tribute to Rutan.[5]

Specifications (Boomerang)

Data from Air&Space Magazine September 2012[2]

General characteristics

Performance

Avionics
2011 upgrade :

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sugar, Jim (November 1, 1996). "Boomerang!". Popular Mechanics.
  2. 1 2 Schapiro, Steve. "Burt Rutan's Favorite Ride", Air & Space/Smithsonian, September 2012. Retrieved: 11 September 2012.
  3. ↑ Ross, Robert (Winter 2001). "Neil Morrow: From Snowboards to SkyTaxi". Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Retrieved 2006-04-01.
  4. ↑ Federal Aviation Administration. (May 15, 2000). "Special Conditions: Installation of Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) System on Morrow Aircraft Corporation Model MB-300 Airplane". Federal Register 65 (94): 30936–30938. Docket No. CE161; Notice No. 23-00-02-SC.
  5. ↑

Official Rutan Boomerang Website - January 31, 2012 Autopia - Burt Rutan’s Boomerang: Safety Through Asymmetry - July 29, 2011 EAA- As designed, Rutan's Boomerang returns to Osh - July 2011

External links

Media related to Rutan Boomerang at Wikimedia Commons

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