Photograph:
An American registered Mitchell Wing P-38 (lightsportaircraft.com)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
single-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 26 kw (35 hp) Cuyuna 430R two-cylinder two-stroke air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.5 m (28 ft)
- Length: 5.2 m (17 ft)
- Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
- Wing area: 11 m² (120 sq ft)
- Max speed: 105 km/h (65 mph)
- Cruising speed: 89 km/h (55 mph)
- Stalling speed: 51 km/h (32 mph)
- Service ceiling: 3,658 m (12,000 ft)
- Range: 177 km (110 miles)
- Empty weight: 100 kg (220 lb)
- Loaded weight: 318 kg (700 lb)
History:
The Mitchell Wing P-38, also known as the Lightning after the World War II Lockheed fighter, was designed by James Mead and produced in kit form for the amateur aircraft market by the Mitchell Aircraft Corporation. It was designed to comply with US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles Regulations. It has a strut-braced low wing, with twin tails, a single-seat cockpit, a tricycle undercarriage with a bungee cord suspension and a steerable nosewheel. A single 26 kw (35 hp) two-cylinder Cuyuna 430R engine is mounted behind the pilot in the pusher configuration, the propeller being above the twin booms. The wing has a NACA 23015 aerofoil and flaperons.
A number of examples were imported to Australia, one being registered on 21 July 1988 as 10-0529 (c/n L283) with the RAA, this aircraft being fitted with a Robin EC44 engine. Before 1988 most ultralight aircraft were not registered.