Photograph:
Light Miniature Aircraft LM-3X-W ZK-FTG (c/n MAANZ 425) at Ashburton, NZ (NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-seat light sporting aircraft
Power Plant:
One 39 kw (52 hp) Rotax 503 UL-2V two-cylinder, two-stroke, fan-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.14 m (30 ft)
- Length: 5.6 m (18 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 11.14 m² (120 sq ft)
- Max speed: 137 km/h (85 mph)
- Max cruising speed: 121 km/h (75 mph)
- Stalling speed: 45 km/h (28 mph)
- Rate of climb: 198 m/min (650 ft/min)
- Fuel capacity: 19 litres (4.16 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 159 kg (350 lb)
- Loaded weight: 272 kg (600 lb)
History:
Light miniature Aircraft of Okeechobee, Florida, was a company which produced replicas of light aircraft of the 1950s to various scales, these including the LM-2X-2P, a 7/8th scale replica of a Taylorcraft; the LM-1-2P Puddle Jumper, an 85 per cent scale replica of a Piper J-3; LM-5X Super Cub being a full scale replica of a Piper Super Cub built from bonded aluminium and Dacron; the LM-5X-W (W standing for wood construction) built of wood with Dacron covering; and the LM-3X-W Aeronca Champ, a 75 per cent replica of the Aeronca Champ, supplied in kit form which seated one in lieu of the two seats of the original aircraft.
The LM-3X could be built from wood or could be completed to plans with an aluminium airframe. A number of examples have been completed around the world and at least two have been completed and flown in New Zealand, including ZK-FTG (c/n MAANZ/425) and ZK-EHU (c/n MAANZ/430).
All of the models built of wood were similar in construction and materials were supplied by Light Miniature Aircraft and Wick Aircraft Supply. Engine installed was usually the Rotax 503 but other engines in the 30 kw to 48 kw (40 hp to 65 hp) range could be installed.