Whittaker MW6
| MW6 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Whittaker MW-6-1-1 Merlin | |
| Role | Amateur-built aircraft |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Designer | Mike Whittaker |
| Status | Plans available (2015) |
| Number built | over 200 sets of plans sold |
| Developed from | Whittaker MW5 Sorcerer |
The Whittaker MW6 is a family of British amateur-built aircraft that was designed by Mike Whittaker and supplied as plans for amateur construction.[1][2]
Design and development[edit]
The MW6 series is based upon the earlier single-seat Whittaker MW5 Sorcerer. The MW6 features a strut-braced parasol wing, a two-seat open cockpit, fixed tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration, mounted on the keel tube, above the cockpit.[1][2]
The aircraft is made from aluminium tubing, with its flying surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric. Its 9.98 m (32.7 ft) span wing has an area of 15.24 m2 (164.0 sq ft). The standard engine used is the 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 two-stroke powerplant.[1][2]
The design is Whittaker's most popular aircraft, with over 200 sets of plans sold. It is approved by the Light Aircraft Association in the UK.[1][2][3]
Operational history[edit]
Bayerl et al. said of the MW6S and MW6T, "Both are very solid and safe, though performance doesn't match the latest hotships."[1][2]
Variants[edit]
- MW6S Fatboy
- Model with side-by-side configuration seating[1][2]
- MW6T Merlin
- Model with tandem seating[1][2]
Specifications (MW6S Fatboy)[edit]
Data from Bayerl and Tacke[1][2]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Wingspan: 9.98 m (32 ft 9 in)
- Wing area: 15.24 m2 (164.0 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 190 kg (419 lb)
- Gross weight: 390 kg (860 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 503 twin cylinder, air-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 37 kW (50 hp)
- Propellers: 2-bladed wooden
Performance
- Maximum speed: 148 km/h (92 mph, 80 kn)
- Cruise speed: 102 km/h (63 mph, 55 kn)
- Stall speed: 56 km/h (35 mph, 30 kn)
- Rate of climb: 2.5 m/s (490 ft/min)
- Wing loading: 25.6 kg/m2 (5.2 lb/sq ft)
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 111. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
- ^ a b c d e f g h Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 117. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
- ^ Light Aircraft Association (25 September 2012). "Approved Homebuilt Types" (PDF). Retrieved 10 October 2012.
External links[edit]
