Photograph:
Unregistered Monnett Moni at Bankstown, NSW in November 1998 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-seat motor-glider/sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 16 kw (22 hp) KFM 107 two-cycle two-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.4 m (27 ft 6 in)
- Length: 4.49 m (14 ft 7½ in)
- Height: 1.34 m (4 ft 4 in)
- Wing area: 6.96 m² (75 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 200 km/h (124 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power at sea level: 176 km/h (109 mph)
- Cruising speed at 55% power at sea level: 127 km/h (79 mph)
- Rate of climb at sea level: 152 m/min (500 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 3,962 m (13,000 ft)
- Stalling speed: 61 km/h (38 mph)
- Range at 75% power with 45 mins reserves: 370 km (230 miles)
- Range at 55% power with 45 mins reserves: 513 km (318 miles)
- Empty weight: 118 kg (260 lb)
- Loaded weight: 227 kg (500 lb)
History:
The Moni was one of a series of designs by John Monnett and marketed by Monnett Experimental Aircraft Inc of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It was said with 15.14 litres (3.3 Imp gals) of fuel one could fly for two hours with the engine; almost indefinitely when the engine is shut down and the aircraft was used as a self launched glider. Interesting features of the type included all-metal construction, side-stick control, single-wheel braking operated from the flap handle when full-flaps were applied, faired tailwheel, steerable with rudder pedals, and a single main-wheel with small wingtip wheels. The wings could be folded for transportation, and it could be towed behind a vehicle.
The prototype flew for the first time on 7 August 1981, being shown at the EAA event at the Oshkosh fly-in that year. Called an Air Recreational Vehicle, the Moni was designed to be simple to build and fly, portable or road transportable, fuel efficient, not dependent on avgas, and capable of limited aerobatics. Two wings were available, the 6.96 m² (75 sq ft) version, or a short span unit of 4.08 m² (44 sq ft).
A few have been imported into Australasia in kit form, including VH-WUT (c/n GFA/HB/117), VH-XJM (c/n GFA/HB/122), VH-HNQ (c/n GFA/HB/18), and VH-ZMC (c/n 336T) registered in Launceston, TAS in May 1962. Others have been flown in the ultralight category with Recreation Aviation Australia.