Single seat single engined high wing mono¬plane with conventional three axis control. Wing has unswept leading edge, swept for¬ward trailing edge and tapering chord; cruci¬form tail. Pitch control by elevator on tail; yaw control by fin mounted rudder; roll control by one third span ailerons; control inputs through stick for pitch/roll and pedals for yaw. Wing braced from below by struts; wing profile; double surface. Undercarriage has three wheels in tricycle formation with additional tailskid; steel spring suspension on all main wheels. Push right go right nose¬wheel steering connected to yaw control. Brakes on main wheels. Aluminium tube framework, without pod. Engine mounted above wing driving tractor propeller. Cover¬ing is transparent Mylar; push pull tubes for flight controls.
The prototype of this single seater appeared at the end of 1982 and presented at the March 1983 Sun In’ Fun in Lakeland, Florida, where it enjoyed a certain success. It is certainly one of the better conventional three axis designs on the American market; for instance, the controls are operated by push rods and the wing is supported on struts rather than cables, features which allow one to rig the aircraft in around 20 min. The wings fold parallel to the fuselage allowing easy transport on a trailer without any other derigging.
The Meadowlark was fitted with a Cuyuna 430R engine with Arizona Air Sports reduc¬tion drive and was sold only in ready to fly form, at a price of $6575. Biam floats were available as an option for $975; other options include flight and engine instruments.
Engine: Cuyuna 430R, 30 hp at 5500 rpm
Propeller diameter and pitch 54 x 27 inch, 1.37 x 0.68 m
V belt reduction, ratio 2.0/1
Max static thrust 197 lb, 90 kg
Power per unit area 0.22 hp/sq.ft, 2.4 hp/sq.m
Fuel capacity 3.7 US gal, 3.1 Imp gal, 14.0 litre
Length overall 19.0 ft, 5.79 m
Height overall 7.3ft, 2.21m
Wing span 35.0ft, 10.66m
Chord at root 5.0ft, 1.52m
Chord at tip 3.0ft, 0.91m
Dihedral 3 deg
Sweepback 0 deg
Tailplane span 8.6 ft, 2.59 m
Fin height 3.4 ft, 1.01 m
Total wing area 136 sq.ft, 12.6 sq.m
Total aileron area 12.0 sq.ft, 1.11 sq.m
Fin area 7.5 sq.ft, 0.69 sq.m
Rudder area 5.0 sq.ft, 0.46 sq.m
Tail¬plane area 14.0 sq.ft, 1.30 sq.m
Total elevator area 7.0 sq.ft, 0.65 sq.m
Wing aspect ratio 9.0/1
Wheel track 5.0ft, 1.52 m
Wheelbase 5.0ft, 1.52 m
Nosewheel diameter overall 19 inch, 48 cm
Main wheels diameter overall 23 inch, 58 cm
Optional floats: 11.0 x 23.5ft, 3.35 x 7.13 m
Empty weight 251 lb, 114 kg
Max take off weight 550 lb, 249kg
Payload 299 lb, 136kg
Max wing loading 4.04 lb/sq.ft, 19.7kg/sq.m
Max power loading 18.3 lb/hp, 8.3kg/hp
Load factors +3.8, 1.5 design
Max level speed 55mph, 88kph
Never exceed speed 60mph, 97kph
Max cruising speed 55mph, 88kph
Economic cruising speed 35mph, 56kph
Stalling speed 22 mph, 35 kph
Max climb rate at sea level 1000 ft/min, 5.1 m/s
Min sink rate 400 ft/min at 27 mph, 2.0 m/s at 43 kph
Best glide ratio with power off 8/1 at 30 mph, 48 kph
Take off distance 75 ft, 23 m
Landing distance 100ft, 30m
Range at average cruising speed 90 mile, 145 km
