Photograph:
Jurca MJ-7 Gnatsum G-BEFU at Leicester, UK in 1983 (K Sowter – Air Britain)
Country of origin:
France
Description:
Single-seat sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 149 kw (200 hp) Lycoming IO-360 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 7.89 m (25 ft 10 in)
- Length: 6.82 m (22 ft 4 in)
- Height: 2.22 m (7 ft 3 in)
- Wing area: 10.21 m² (110 sq ft)
- Max speed: 322 km/h (200 mph)
- Max cruising speed: 282 km/h (175 mph)
- Stalling speed: 105 km/h (65 mph)
- Take-off run: 274 m (900 ft)
- Landing run: 244 m (800 ft)
- Fuel capacity: 114 litres (25 Imp gals)
- Range: 917 km (570 miles)
- Empty weight: 533 kg (1,175 lb)
- Loaded weight: 696 kg (1,535 lb)
History:
The Jurca MJ-7 Gnatsum (Mustang spelt backwards) was a 2/3rd scale replica of the North American P-51 Mustang. It was produced in kit and plan form for the amateur constructor, these being available from Boeve Fiberglass Components Inc of Michigan in the United States. It could be fitted with a number of in-line engines including the 149 kw (200 hp) Ranger, this unit allowing it to follow the engine cowling lines of the original aircraft.
A further variant was produced by the same company, this being the MJ-77 Gnatsum, which was a 76 per cent scale model fitted with a Geschwender modified 350 cubic inch V-8 converted motor vehicle engine, but some in the United States have been fitted with converted V-6 motor vehicle engines. Other engines installed included the 186 kw (250 hp) Potez, the Lycoming IO-360, and the Walter Minor 6-III six-cylinder inverted in-line air-cooled unit.
The Gnatsum was designed by Marcel Jurca. It was of all-wood construction with fabric covering, was first flown in 1969, and was usually a single-seat aircraft with a retractable undercarriage. It had some aerobatic ability. No Gnatsum is known to have been completed in this region as yet but at one stage the registration VH-AKK was allotted to an example, the construction of which was commenced by Mr A Kingat of Niddrie, VIC. It is not believed this aircraft has been completed.