Photograph:
Light Miniature Aircraft LMA-1-W ZK-LWP at Omaka, NZ in February 2012 (A Heap – NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light sporting aircraft
Power Plant:
One 48 kw (65 hp) Rotax 582-UL-2V two-cylinder two-stroke liquid-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.144 m (30 ft)
- Length: 5.88 m (19 ft 3 in)
- Wing area: 12.07 m² (130 sq ft)
- Max speed: 137 km/h (85 mph)
- Cruising speed: 121 km/h (75 mph)
- Stalling speed: 51 km/h (32 mph)
- Rate of climb: 229 m/min (750 ft/min)
- Fuel capacity: 34 litres (7.5 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 186 kg (400 lb)
- Loaded weight: 306 kg (675 lb)
History:
This is one of a series of light aircraft kits produced by Light Miniature Aircraft of Okeechobee, Florida in kit form for amateur construction. The LM-1 was an 85 per cent scale replica of the Piper J-3 and was usually powered by a 48 kw (65 hp) Rotax engine, though a range of other engines could be installed. Construction was of wood with fabric covering. Variants of this model were the LM-1-2P Puddle Jumper, a two-seat model, and the LM-1X, a 75 per cent scale model of aluminium construction with Dacron covering seating one.
The Company produced other kits, including the LM-5X Super Cub, a full scale aircraft of metal construction with fabric covering, which was a replica of the Piper Super Cub; the LM-5X-W, which was the same aircraft but of wood construction with fabric covering; the LM-3X-W being a 75 per cent scale all-wood construction replica of the Aeronca Champ; and the LM-2X-2P-W which is a ⅞-scale replica of all-wood and fabric covering construction of a Taylorcraft design.
The first example of the series seen in this region was an LM-1W completed in New Zealand in 2005 which became ZK-RMF (c/n 1015), which was fitted with a converted 1600-cc Volkswagen engine, this aircraft being built by Mr A Fairhall and making its first flight at Blenheim.