O'Neill Aristocraft II

The Aristocraft II was a six-place homebuilt aircraft designed by Terrence O'Neill.^[2]

Design and development

The Aristocraft II was a redesigned aircraft built off the prototype airframe of the WACO Aristocraft. The Franklin-powered Aristocraft pusher was rebuilt using the wings and most of the internal structure of the original. The layout was drastically changed from a twin-tailed, mid-engined, pusher to a conventional tractor arrangement. The intent was to develop a homebuilt aircraft from the design with the flexibility to carry six passengers, or fewer people with extended range.^[3][4] A effort was made to certify the design, under the name Model W Winner but money ran out before completion, with only two orders.

The Aristocraft II was a strut-braced, high-wing, tricycle gear, six-passenger aircraft designed for Franklin or Lycoming 200 hp (149 kW) engines.^[5] The fuselage was made of welded steel tubing with aluminum skin. The cowling was split vertically, and could hinge open for maintenance.^[6]

Variants

The standard engine was a six-cylinder Lycoming, however plans were drawn for a 245 hp (183 kW) Jacobs L-4MB radial engine installation and also for a Continental R-670 radial installation. This specified that the engine would be mounted closer to the firewall and also incorporated conventional landing gear, a 93 in (236 cm) propeller and the outward appearance of "Mr. Muligan", this evolved into the O'Neill Magnum.^[7]

Specifications (Arisocraft II)

Data from Sport Aviation, Air Trails Summer 1971

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: five passengers
• Length: 25 ft 10 in (7.87 m)
• Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
• Height: 8 ft (2.4 m)
• Wing area: 190 sq ft (18 m²)
• Airfoil: NACA 4415
• Empty weight: 1,800 lb (816 kg)
• Gross weight: 3,300 lb (1,497 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 76 gal
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming IO-360 four-cylinder, direct-drive, horizontally-opposed, air-cooled, piston aircraft engine, 200 hp (150 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed
• Maximum speed: 122 kn; 225 km/h (140 mph)
• Cruise speed: 113 kn; 209 km/h (130 mph)
• Stall speed: 48 kn; 89 km/h (55 mph)
• Range: 695 nmi; 1,287 km (800 mi)
• Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,600 m)
• Rate of climb: 500 ft/min (2.5 m/s)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Waco Aristocraft - The last aircraft built by the WACO company. One model rebuilt and named Aristorcraft II.

References