Brügger Colibri

Colibri
MB-2 at Vängsö ESSZ in Sweden in 2006
Role	Sports plane
Manufacturer	Homebuilt
Designer	Max Brügger
First flight	1965
Number built	Over 260 under construction or flying by 1993

The Brügger MB-1, MB-2 and MB-3 Colibri were a family of small sports aircraft designed in Switzerland in the 1960s and 70s for amateur construction. They were single-seat, low-wing cantilever monoplanes with fixed tailwheel undercarriage powered by Volkswagen four-cylinder horizontally opposed automobile engines. The MB-1 Colibri first flew in 1965 and served as a development aircraft for the definitive MB-2 Colibri 2 that flew in 1970. These aircraft had all-wooden framework with fabric-covered wings and plywood-covered fuselages. The pilot's seat was enclosed by an expansive bubble canopy. In 1976-77, Brügger built and flew an all-metal version as the MB-3.

Specifications (MB-2)

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Length: 4.80 m (15 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 6.00 m (19 ft 8 in)
• Height: 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
• Wing area: 8.2 m² (88 ft²)
• Empty weight: 215 kg (474 lb)
• Gross weight: 330 kg (727 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Volkswagen air-cooled engine, 30 kW (40 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 180 km/h (111 mph)
• Range: 500 km (310 miles)
• Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,760 ft)
• Rate of climb: 3.0 m/s (590 ft/min)

References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 215. 
• Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1977-78. London: Jane's Yearbooks. pp. 506–07.