Photograph:
Jurca MJ-77 Gnatsum HB-YGZ (Ken Tilley)
Country of origin:
France
Description:
Single-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One General Motors LQ-9 V-8 engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.43 m (27 ft 8 in)
- Length: 6.53 m (21 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 13.5 m² (145 sq ft)
- Max speed: 465 km/h (289 mph)
- Cruising speed: 370 km/h (230 mph)
- Stalling speed: 105 km/h (65 mph)
- Rate of climb: 457 m/min (1,500 ft/min)
- Range: 805 km (500 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 189 litres (41.6 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 998 kg (2,200 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,297 kg (2,860 lb)
History:
The Gnatsum series of aircraft was designed and built in France by Marcel Jurca. The name Gnatsum is Mustang reversed. It was a high-performance aircraft based on the design of the North American P-51D Mustang and plans were available in three basic forms, the MJ-7, which was a two-thirds scale Mustang; the MJ-77, which was a three-quarters scale Mustang; and the MJ-70, which was a full size representation.
It was a low-wing cantilever monoplane of wooden construction with fabric covering, with a tailwheel undercarriage, and was produced to take a variety of engines, which have included, in the MJ-77, the Ranger six-cylinder in-line unit, and the United States developed Geschwender unit, which used either a Ford V-8 or Chevrolet V-8 engine driving a four-blade propeller. The MJ-7, being smaller, has been fitted with engines ranging from the Canadian Rambler, General Motors Buick, Gipsy Major and Menasco.
The first aircraft flew for the first time in France in 1969 and more than 25 have been completed. In later years the design has been offered in kit form by the Canadian company, Falconar Aircraft.
An MJ-77 has been built in Australia, becoming VH-ZYC (c/n JJH4) to its owner Mr J J Holmes of Ulverstone, TAS, this aircraft being fitted with a General Motors LQ-9 V-8 engine driving a four-blade Ivoprop adjustable propeller.