Nesmith Cougar

Cougar
Role	Recreational aircraft
Manufacturer	Homebuilt
Designer	Bob Nesmith
First flight	1957
Introduction	1957

The Nesmith Cougar was a light aircraft developed in the United States in the 1950s and marketed for homebuilding.

Development

The design, by Robert Nesmith, was for a conventional high-wing, strut-braced monoplane with fixed tailwheel undercarriage. The pilot and a single passenger were seated side-by-side. The fuselage and empennage were of welded steel-tube construction, while the wings were of wood, and the whole aircraft was fabric-covered.

The original Cougar design was marketed by Nesmith himself. His intent was to market a low-cost aircraft for homebuilders. He also used the aircraft as a troubled youth project to encourage teens to work together toward a goal.^[1] When a modified Cougar won an Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) design competition in 1963, that organization took over selling plans. Rights to the design were eventually purchased by Acro Sport.

The aircraft shape was influenced by the Beechcraft Staggerwing and Wittman Tailwind. The name came from the college of Nesmith's daughter, the University of Houston, whose athletic mascot is The Cougar. ^[2]

Variants

One example was built with folding wings and Culver Cadet landing gear, called the "Chigger". The aircraft was capable of being towed backward behind a car.^[3]

Specifications (typical)

Data from Sport Aviation

General characteristics

• Crew: 1 pilot
• Capacity: 1 passenger
• Length: 18 ft 11 in (5.77 m)
• Wingspan: 20 ft 6 in (6.25 m)
• Height: 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
• Wing area: 83 ft² (7.71 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 5.06
• Empty weight: 624 lb (283 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,250 lb (567 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-235 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed piston engine, 115 hp (86 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 195 mph (314 km/h)
• Range: 750 miles (1,200 km)
• Service ceiling: 13,000 ft (3,950 m)

References

1. ^ Micheal Nesmith (March 1957). Experimenter. 
2. ^ Micheal Nesmith (March 1957). Experimenter. 
3. ^ Sport Aviation. December 1958. 

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 347. 
• Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1977-78. London: Jane's Yearbooks. pp. 538.