Mitchell Wing B-10

B-10
Mitchell Wing B-10 at Pima Air & Space Museum
Role Ultralight aircraft and motor glider
National origin United States
Manufacturer US Pacific
Designer Don Mitchell
First flight 1980
Introduction mid-1980s
Status Plans available (2012)
Variants AmeriPlanes Mitchell Wing A-10
Mitchell U-2 Superwing

The Mitchell Wing B-10 is an American high-wing, open cockpit, single-seat, tailless, ultralight aircraft and motor glider designed by Don Mitchell and based on his Mitchell Wing hang-glider. It has been produced by a variety of companies in the form of kits and plans for amateur construction.[1][2] It first flew in 1980.[3]

In 2012 the aircraft was still available in the form of plans and some materials, offered by US Pacific of Fresno, California.[1]

Design and development

The Mitchell Wing started off as a foot-launched hang glider with good soaring performance. Mitchell later modified the design into a powered ultralight aircraft with wheeled tricycle landing gear, known as the B-10. The B-10F is a foot-launched variant with only two wheels.[2] The B-10 was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 245 lb (111 kg).[1]

The B-10's fuselage is made from aluminum tubing while the wing has a birch plywood D-cell leading edge and foam ribs, covered with Dacron sailcloth or doped aircraft fabric. The tailless wing is common to all three variants.[2] It is of tapered and lightly-swept form, employing a NACA 23015 airfoil. It has a span of 36 ft (11.0 m) span wing, area of 136 sq ft (12.6 m2), aspect ratio of 8:1. The 8.5 ft (2.6 m) outboard wing panels have 6 degrees of dihedral and the wing overall has 12 degrees of sweep. The controls are conventional three axis, comprising trailing elevons and wing tip mounted vertical rudders, and operated via a top-mounted centre stick.

Power is provided by a single engine in pusher configuration, mounted behind the pilot's seat. Small engines in the 20 to 30 hp (15 to 22 kW) range can be used: The prototype was fitted with a 12 hp (9 kW) McCulloch MC101, with Chrysler West Bend and McCulloch two-strokes being recommended.[2][1][4] and the Zenoah G-25 of 22 hp (16 kW) has been fitted.[citation needed]

Construction time for the supplied plans is estimated at 500 hours.[1]

The B-10 can be quickly disassembled for ground transport or storage. The outer wing panels fold or can be removed, the fuselage cage is detachable and the tip rudders are quickly removed.[4]

The B-10 was subsequently developed into the A-10 and two-seat T-10 and the mid-wing Mitchell U-2 Superwing.

Aircraft on display

Specifications (B-10)

Data from World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12 and US Pacific[1][6]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Length: 8 ft (2.4 m)
  • Wingspan: 34 ft (10 m)
  • Height: 4 ft (1.2 m)
  • Wing area: 136 sq ft (12.6 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 8:1
  • Airfoil: NACA 23015
  • Empty weight: 245 lb (111 kg)
  • Gross weight: 595 lb (270 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 5 litres (1.1 imp gal; 1.3 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Zenoah G-25 two stroke aircraft engine, 22 hp (16 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed Wooden fixed pitch, 4 ft 2 in (1.27 m) diameter

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 65 mph (105 km/h, 56 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 60 mph (97 km/h, 52 kn)
  • Stall speed: 25 mph (40 km/h, 22 kn)
  • Service ceiling: 12,000 ft (3,700 m)
  • g limits: +4/-4
  • Maximum glide ratio: 16:1
  • Rate of climb: 600 ft/min (3.0 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 4.4 lb/sq ft (21 kg/m2)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 138. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. ^ a b c d John W. Taylor (ed.); Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1908-81. pp.530-1.
  3. ^ "J2mcL Planeurs - Fiche planeur n°". www.j2mcl-planeurs.net. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  4. ^ a b US Pacific (2003). "The Mitchell Wing B-10 Ultralight Motor Glider". Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  5. ^ US Southwest Soaring Museum (2010). "Sailplanes, Hang Gliders & Motor Gliders". Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  6. ^ US Pacific (2003). "Specifications". Archived from the original on 8 January 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
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