Mustang Aeronautics Midget Mustang

Midget Mustang
Role	Aerobatic sports plane
Manufacturer	Mustang Aeronautics for Homebuilding
Designer	David Long
First flight	1948
Number built	ca. 400

The Mustang Aeronautics Midget Mustang is a single-seat aerobatic sports airplane developed and marketed in the United States for homebuilding. It is also known as the Long Midget, and the Bushby Mustang.

Development

It is a low-wing cantilever monoplane of metal construction and most are fitted with fixed tailwheel undercarriage. Developed by Piper engineer David Long in 1948, plans for production by Schweizer were underway at the time of Long's death two years later. All rights and tooling were purchased by Robert Bushby in 1959, who sold plans and kits until 1992, when he sold the rights to Mustang Aeronautics. The Midget Mustang design being marketed in 2007 is similar to the original, with the exception of a bubble canopy replacing the straight line of the upper tailcone and sliding canopy of Long's original design.

Operational history

The Midget Mustang was not intended for air racing, however, it's design was so closely matched with the Formula One Air Racing specifications, that it was able to compete unmodified. The first race of a Mustang was in 1948, at the Cleveland National Air Races with the prototype. Racers competed in aircraft with names like, "Mammy","Miss Fort Worth", and "Slo Poke". Over time, air racers modified the aircraft to reach 181 mph (291 km/h) speeds in competition.^[1]

Specifications (MM-1-125)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Length: 16 ft 5 in (5.00 m)
• Wingspan: 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m)
• Height: 4 ft 6 in (1.37 m)
• Wing area: 68 ft² (6.32 m²)
• Empty weight: 590 lb (268 kg)
• Gross weight: 900 lb (408 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-290-D2, 135 hp (101 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 225 mph (362 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 165 mph (265^[3] km/h)
• Range: 375 miles (603 km)
• Service ceiling: 19,000 ft (5,790 m)
• Rate of climb: 2,200 ft/min (11.2 m/s)

References

1. ^ Don Berliner (July 1959). "PROFESSIONAL RACE PILOTS ASSOCIATION RACING ALBUM The Long Midgets". Sport Aviaiton. 
2. ^ Taylor 1982, pp. 532–533.
3. ^ econ cruise

• Taylor, John W. R. (1982). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2. 
• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 225. 
• Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1977-78. London: Jane's Yearbooks. pp. 530. 

• Manufacturer's website

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Nexus Mustang