Teman Mono-Fly

Single-seat single-engined high-wing monoplane with conventional three-axis control. Wing has unswept leading and trailing edges, and constant chord; conventional tail. Pitch control by fully flying tail; yaw control by fully flying rudder; roll control by one-third-span ailerons; control inputs through yoke for pitch/roll and pedals for yaw. Wing braced from below by struts; wing profile modified Clark Y (incidence: 6 deg at root, 3 deg at tip); double-surface. Undercarriage has three wheels in tricycle formation with additional tailskid; steel-spring suspension on nosewheel and bungee suspension on main wheels. Push-right go-right nosewheel steering connected to yaw control. Brake on nosewheel. Aluminium-tube framework, without pod. Engine mounted below wing driving pusher propeller.

Bob Teman worked as a structural engineer on the space shuttle and Cruise missile programmes and over the last few years he has designed and built several aircraft including a man-powered machine. His Mono-Fly is the result of five years of development during which the main boom of the fuselage is the only part which has not been modified. Trials began in January 1976 and the first flight was made in duly 1979, experimental category FAA certification being granted on 7 July 1980, though the latest version just qualifies as an ultralight. Three different wings had been built - the prototype even appeared once as a biplane - three different engines, four types of suspension, two tails etc.

Although he started by selling his Mono-Fly only as plans, Bob Teman was quickly overwhelmed by the demand and had to form Teman Aircraft to do it properly. This company now sells the Mono-Fly as plans for $40, requiring around 300h labour and approximately $1910 for materials, engine included. In standard form, the engine was a twin cylinder, four-stroke Onan (as used by Quickie) developing up to 22 hp and used with direct drive. Bob next offered as an option, the Kawasaki TA440 of 38.5 hp, whilst producing a prototype powered by a Rotax 503, which became the standard power pack in March 1983.

At Sun 'n' Fun in 1983 at Lakeland, Florida, where the Mono-Fly put on several displays, Teman Aircraft also announced that two kits were now available. One, called the material kit, offers the Mono-Fly complete except for paint and battery for $3540 or $2155 without the engine and requires around 150h assembly. The other, called the fast build kit, needs 80h assembly according to Teman Aircraft and is sold for $3900 complete or $2515 without engine. The latter offers, on top of that in the material kit, sheet, plate, angle and tube all cut to size including bends and pilot holes, while the engine is modified and ready to bolt on.

The Mono-Fly is designed with demountable wings to facilitate transport and rigging without tools takes ten minutes for one person.

Engine: Rotax 503, 46 hp at 6500 rpm
Propeller diameter and pitch 52 x 34 inch, 1.32 x 0.86 m
Reduction ratio 2.0/1
Max static thrust 300 lb, 136 kg
Power per unit area 0.37 hp/sq.ft, 4.0 hp/sq.m
Fuel capacity 5.0 US gal, 4.2 Imp gal, 18.9 litre
Optional fuel: 6.0 US gal, 5.0 Imp gal, 22.7 litre
Length overall 17.2 ft, 5.23 m
Height overall 6.6ft, 2.01m
Wing span 30.8ft, 9.37m
Constant chord 4.0ft, 1.22m
Dihedral 3 deg
Sweepback 0 deg
Total wing area 124sq.ft, 11.5sq.m
Total aileron area 8.0sq.ft, 0.74sq.m
Rudder area 10.0 sq.ft, 0.93 sq.m
Total elevator area 14.0 sq.ft, 1.30 sq.m
Wing aspect ratio 7.6/1
Empty weight 250 lb, 113kg
Max take-off weight 550 lb, 249kg
Payload 300 lb, 136kg
Max wing loading 4.43 lb/sq.ft, 21.6kg/sq.m
Max power loading 12.0 lb/hp, 5.4kg/hp
Load factors; +10.0, -10.0 ultimate
Max level speed 63 mph, 101 kph
Max cruising speed 45 mph, 72kph
Stalling speed 20mph, 32kph
Max climb rate at sea level 1000ft/min, 5.1m/s
Take-off distance 100 ft, 30 m