Photograph:
Titan T-51 ZK-MSY (c/n 0035) at Omaka, New Zealand (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 75 kw (100 hp) Rotax 912S four-cylinder horizontally-opposed liquid-and-air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 7.32 m (24 ft)
- Length: 7.16 m (23 ft 6 in)
- Height: 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 10.96 m² (118 sq ft)
- Max speed: 317 km/h (197 mph)
- Cruising speed: 241 km/h (150 mph)
- Stalling speed: 62 km/h (39 mph)
- Rate of climb: 366 m/min (1,200 ft/min)
- Take-off run: 91 m (300 ft)
- Landing run: 91 m (300 ft)
- Ceiling: 4,877 m (16,000 ft)
- Range: 1,158 km (720 miles)
- Empty weight: 340 kg (750 lb)
- Loaded weight: 559 kg (1,232 lb)
History:
The T-51 is manufactured in kit form by Titan Aircraft of Austinburg, Ohio, as a two-seat 70% scale replica of the North American P-51D Mustang and was aimed at the light sporting market. It can be fitted with a variety of engines up to 112 kw (150 hp) but is usually fitted with the Rotax 912S. It is of all-metal construction and is rated at +6/-4G load limit at 559 kg (1,232 lb) gross weight with the 912S engine, with a controllable pitch propeller and a retractable undercarriage. Cruising speed is 241 km/h (150 mph).
The aircraft was designed by John Williams and seats two in tandem. In the United States it is usually flown under Experimental Class regulations and a fixed undercarriage variant is to be marketed.
A number have been imported to this region, the first in New Zealand being assembled in 2005, becoming ZK-MSY (c/n 0035) on 2 March 2006 registered to the importers, Campbell Aviation of Loburn. Another aircraft has been fitted with a 112 kw (150 hp) Suzuki V-6 2.5 litre quad-cam engine.
Around the world a variety of engines has been developed and fitted to the T-51, ranging in power from the 80 kw (100 hp) Rotax 912 through to the 2.5 litre 116 kw (155 hp) Suzuki, the 138 kw (185 hp) Suzuki and the 175 kw to 224 kw (235 hp to 300 hp) Honda 3500 cc V-6, whilst work has proceeded on developing a 224 kw (300 hp) conversion of a German BMW engine, and an all-aluminium conversion of the Chevrolet L2 V-8 engine as fitted to Holden Commodore cars.
Further machines have been completed including ZK-WWM (c/n 0038) at Masterton, ZK-DBG (c/n 044), ZK-DGM (c/n 0068) and ZK-AKL (c/n 0070) at Papakura in April 2008. By late 2009 nine had been registered in New Zealand. One example ZK-SMF is fitted with a 149 kw (200 hp) Mazda 13B Renisis rotary engine with fuel injection with a 2.9:1 reduction gearbox giving 2,100 rpm at the propeller at an engine speed of 5,500 rpm and has a Christen inverted oil system fitted.
By 2015 some 30 examples of the T-51 had been imported to New Zealand, with half being powered by the Rotax 912 and others with the H27A Suzuki, as fitted to the Suzuki Grand Vitara motor vehicle, these engines fitted with a Hintz gear re-drive. In late 2016 ex-New Zealand T-51 ZK-TLI (c/n T51) was exported to Australia where on 9 November 2016 it became VH-MJS.
First registered in Australia became VH-NUH (c/n 117) to its builder S Carmody of Belmont, VIC. Others have been completed, including VH-SJZ³ (c/n 115) registered on 12 January 2016.