Photograph:
Loehle 5151RG VH-ENH (c/n 122X) with a Rotax 912 engine at Willunga, SA (E Hancock)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-seat light sporting aircraft
Power Plant:
One 48 kw (65 hp) Rotax 582 UL-2V two-cylinder two-stroke liquid-cooled electronic dual ignition engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.35 m (27 ft 4 in)
- Length: 6.97 m (22 ft 9 in)
- Height: 1.82 m (6 ft)
- Wing area: 12.07 m² (130 sq ft)
- Max speed: 161 km/h (100 mph)
- Cruising speed: 137 km/h (85 mph)
- Stalling speed: 48 km/h (30 mph)
- Rate of climb: 366 m/min (1,200 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 3,810 m (12,500 ft)
- Range: 523 km (325 miles)
- Empty weight: 272 kg (600 lb)
- Loaded weight: 401 kg (885 lb)
History:
The Loehle Aircraft Corp is based in Wartrace, Tennessee in the United States and has in recent years produced a series of ¾-scale replicas of World War I and World War II fighters in kit form, the latter included the P-40 Kittyhawk, the Supermarine Spitfire, and the North American Mustang. The former included the Early Bird Jenny, a scale replica of the Curtiss Jenny, the RAF SE.5A, the Spad XII, and the Fokker D.VII. These aircraft are built of wood with fabric covering and are usually fitted with one of the Rotax series of engines, although Subaru and Jabiru engines have also been installed.
The various models are available in a kit which does not include the engine. Wings are detachable for transportation and storage, and parts are pre-machined and numbered ready for assembly. Many options are available, including wing tanks, deluxe interior package, ballistic parachute, fibreglass fairings etc. Engine packages are available and many hundreds of kits have been supplied around the world.
The Australian distributor in Queensland imported a number of examples and, like most aircraft in this range, they have been completed as homebuilts and registered under Australian Ultralight Federation (later RAA) regulations. The 5151 Mustang is produced in two models, the 5151 with a 37 kw (50 hp) Rotax 503 engine, and the 5151RG, which has a retractable undercarriage and a Rotax 582 engine. In June 2003 a P-40 Flying Tiger variant of the design was registered to its owner at Willunga, SA as VH-ENH (c/n S122X).
Examples of the 5151 Mustang completed and registered under RAA regulations, include 19-3805 (c/n S122X). VH-ENH became 19-8547 in 2014, registered in October 2002 and based at Orange, NSW; and 19-7151 (c/n 4890313). The former 19-3805 was fitted with a Suzuki Swift four-cylinder fuel injected engine with a Rotax B gearbox driving a four-blade Brolga propeller and had a rectractable undercarriage.