A 75% scale ultralight P-51 Mustang that qualifies as an LSA. The entire 5151 kit is designed for the inexperienced builder and is estimated to be completed in 400-500 hours. Almost all parts are pre-cut to exact dimensions, grooved, shaped and even tapered to ensure a perfect fit. The gussets and stringer attach pieces used in large quantity in the airframe are die cut like in a good model aircraft kit. The canopy and metal parts are also pre cut and those “difficult to make” parts are even preformed, predrilled and ready to assemble. All hardware comes separately packed and labelled for each section of the aircraft to avoid loss or confusion where parts go. The airframe kit includes everything to build the aircraft less engine, instruments and paint. Covering material and fabric glue, prop, tyres etc., and the enormous 18 inch custom spinner is also included in the airframe kit. Although the ROTAX 582LC is the recommend engine, there are several engine options including a 4 cyl., in-line 4-stroke engine available.
The construction of the 5151 Mustang consists more of an assembly than actually building, since all parts are highly prefabricated. Much of the assembly is of geodetic construction which, while it looks “fussy” it is actually a simple technique producing an exceptionally strong airframe for the structure’s weight. The fuselage consists of a conventional simple box-type construction which is transformed by formers and stringers into the shape of a P-51. The heart of the 5151 is the massive 10 x 12 inch centre section box spar which takes the optional wing tanks and the retractable or fixed landing gear, which ever the builder desires. The outer box spar i.e. wing panels attach to the centre section and are removable for storage or trailer, which leaves a foot wide structure on the landing gear for easy handling. Once the spar is assembled, the wing ribs simply attach to the spar and no jigs are needed since the aircraft is designed to be built on a flat bench. Also a remarkable feature is the technique used by the designer to virtually eliminate building errors in those critical components such as washout, taper etc., since the wing is tapered and all 12 wing ribs are different.
All tail surfaces are also built conventionally and consist simply of a leading edge spar, pre-cut trailing edge, ribs and geodetic bracing. The ribs are built over full-size drawings and are also built on the workbench, just as the entire rudder, elevators and vertical stabilizer. The retractable landing gear and also the fixed version is made of 4130N 2 inch chromolly tubing and comes tack welded.
The 5151RG has retractable undercarriage.
5151-RG
By 2014, the covering no longer came as part of the kit (available separately though), and only the Rotax 582 engine was offered. Ribs are solid wood – already cut to proper airfoil shape; simply require cap strips upper and lower.
5151 Engine: Rotax 503, 50 hp. Speed max: 95 mph. Cruise: 75 mph. Range: 325 sm. Stall: 28 mph. ROC: 700 fpm. Take-off dist: 150 ft. Landing dist: 250 ft. Service ceiling: 12,500 ft. Fuel cap: 5-13 USG. Weight empty: 513 lbs. Gross: 885 lbs. Height: 6 ft. Length: 22.9 ft. Wing span: 27.4 ft. Wing area: 130 sq.ft. Seats: 1. Landing gear: tail wheel.
5151 RG Engine: Rotax 582, 65 hp. Vne: 100 mph/ 89 kt. Cruise: 85 mph/ 79 kt. Range: 325 nm. Stall: 30 mph/27 kt. ROC: 1200 fpm. Take-off dist: 150 ft. Landing dist: 250 ft. Service ceiling: 12,500 ft. Fuel cap: 13 USG. Weight empty: 600 lbs. Gross: 885 lbs. Height: 6 ft. Length: 22.9 ft. Wing span: 27.4 ft. Wing area: 130 sq.ft. Seats: 1. Landing gear: tail wheel, retractable.
5151-RG Engine: Rotax 582, 64 hp Wing span: 8.4 m Wing area: 12.7 sq.m MAUW: 300 kg Empty weight: 203 kg Fuel capacity: 25 lt Max speed: 150 kph Cruise speed: 150 kph Minimum speed: 55 kph Climb rate: 4.2 m/s Certification: Vz Seats: 1 Fuel consumption: 13 lt/hr Kit price (1998): $7995
1995-8: Shipmans Creek Rd, Wartrace, TN 37183, USA. 2009: Loehle Aircraft Corp., 380 UF Shipmans Creek Rd, Wartrace, TN 37183, USA
Squadron Aviation designs and manufacturing rights were purchased by Loehle Aviation.
Mike Loehle crashed a factory P-40 demo airplane 10/3/2011 in TN, due to possible control issues.
Mrs. Sandra “Sandy” Loehle died at NHC – Tullahoma on June 9, 2017 in Tullahoma, TN at the age of 61 after a battle with endometrial cancer. Sandy is survived by her husband, Michael Duane Loehle of Wartrace, TN. She married Michael Duane Loehle in 1989, after a business partnership became a life partnership in the world of aviation. After moving to Wartrace, TN, Sandy helped found Loehle Aircraft Corp. as co-founder and VP of Operations. Sandy wore many “hats” at Loehle Aircraft and became a sales, operations, HR, logistics, and marketing “guru” that allowed their partnership to have aircraft customers in 26 countries.
Produced by the Maxair Aircraft Corporation at the height of the ultralight boom, the original single-seat Drifter featured a 28-hp Rotax 277 engine. Its cable-braced wing and aluminum fuselage tube resulted in a rigid design that was soon expanded to include a two-seat trainer version and a short-wing, overpowered single-seat hot rod that was well outside ultralight limits. Some Drifters were equipped with monohull or dual floats.
Maxair declared bankruptcy in 1991, and the Drifter project was picked up by Phil Lockwood, who had worked for Maxair.
His company, Lockwood Aircraft, now kits the Super Drifter, an LSA, two-seat version powered by an 81-hp, four-stroke Rotax 912UL engine. With its standard 10-gallon tank, the Super Drifter claims a range of about 200 nautical miles at a cruise speed of about 60 knots—perfect for low-altitude, warm-weather exploring or short trips.
The two-seat Drifter and the similarly configured Air Cam has conventional controls and handling, and power is more than adequate. It’s worth noting that the rather short main landing gear legs and a long fuselage result in a nearly level three-point attitude on the ground. First-time front-seat pilots would benefit from climbing aboard, sitting awhile, and noting the angle between the Drifter’s small nose cone and the horizon. That’s the ideal landing attitude, and there is little ahead for a pitch reference.
Engine: Rotax 912, 80 hp HP range: 50-80 Length: 22 ft Wing span: 30 ft Wing area: 160 sq.ft Empty weight: 495 lb Gross weight: 1100 lb Fuel capacity: 10 USG Cruise: 70 mph Stall: 34 mph Range: 230 sm Rate of climb: 1000 fpm Takeoff dist: 200 ft Landing dist: 300 ft Landing gear: tailwheel
The two- seat Mini-twin was developed from the TEAM “Z” Hi-Max which was a single seater, with the width and wingspan both increased.
First registered ZK-JEB in 13 May 1996, David Locke test flew the aircraft in May 1996. ZK-JEB (c/n DBL 3) is officially a David Boehm Locke Hi Max Minitwin, and it took 1500 hours to construct over a period of 2 years. Powered by a 45 HP Zenoah engine it has a cruise of 65 mph. MAUW is 660 pound (299 Kg). It was a good aeroplane but not really fast enough for cross country flying so Dave Locke turned his attention to the Minitwin Mk II. On 15/1/01 ownership transferred to B StC C McKenzie of Auckland, then on 25/6/02 to S A Hyde, also of Auckland. It then headed to the South Island, to C G L Pennell of Rangiora with whom it had a forced landing following power loss on 8/12/05. It then went to A C Reid of Fairlie and finally to J D Simpson of Karamea.
ZK-DBL (c/n DBL 4) is officially a D Locke Mintwin II. It took 2500 hours to construct and it is powered by a 63 HP 3 cylinder 657cc DOHC water cooled engine from a Suzuki Cappucino sports car. It has a 3:1 reduction gearbox that Dave designed and built himself. Cruise is around 85 to 90mph. Empty weight is 630 pounds (287 Kg) and MAUW is 1,070 pounds (485 Kg). It is still owned by Dave Locke.
Of all wood construction the first Gangobie was designed and built by two brothers, William and James Lobet, in 1953. The result of intensive wind tunnel testing, the prototype got airborne behind a l6hp Clerget engine. Since built in small numbers in North America, and achieved kitset production status as a peanut scale 13” wing span balsa model.
Grounded after 30 hours of flight time by the failure of the nearly 50 year old engine, the Ganagobie concept was given a new lease of life by a Canadian engineer, Mr George Jacquemin. Mr Jacquemin, an aerospace engineer with Lockheed in California, suggested the modification of the design to accommodate the large numbers of war surplus target drone engines available in the mid fifties. The fuselage was given a boost in size to fit a larger framed pilot and a second prototype begun in Toronto, Canada, by an Experimental Aircraft Chapter. Completed by a Mr Pierre Descamps, the American Ganagobie was engined by a 1934 French-built Poinsard 35hp flat four. A subsequent flight report by De Havilland Canada’s chief test pilot gave the design a boost and some ten Ganagobie 03 projects were begun, largely in the United States and Canada. The original Canadian built Ganagobie was later re-engined with a Volkswagen 1200cc engine, standard fare for a number of homebuilts, and led to the latest in the family, the Lobet Ganagobie 05. The one and only Ganagobie 05, begun in Australia in 1974 after James Lobet migrated there, was shipped to New Zealand in 1982.
The Whisky IV is a tandem two seat, low wing aircraft designed by Giuseppe Vidor. Construction materials are wood & fabric. The landing gear is a fixed tailwheel configuration. 2009 Complete set of plans $400 (US$)
Engine: Limbach 2000, 80 hp HP range: 75-100 Wing Span: 26.25 ft. Wing Area: 120.5 sq. ft. Length: 21 ft. Height: 7 ft. Cockpit Width: 28.3 in. Aspect Ratio: 5.7 Dihedral Angle: 4° Wash Out: 1.50° Empty Weight: 622 lbs. Gross Weight: 1058 lbs. Wing Loading: 8.78 lbs./sq. ft. Power Loading: 13.22 lbs./HP C.G. Travel: 18.3 to 31% MAC Fuel Capacity: 13.2 gal. / 79 lbs. V.N.E: 175 mph. Max Horizontal Speed: 160 mph. Cruise 75% Power: 130 mph. Max Maneuvering Speed: 115 mph. Max Flap Speed: 84 mph. Stall Speed Flaps Down: 37 mph. Stall Speed Flaps Up: 43 mph. Take-Off Distance: (Solo) 330 ft. Landing Distance: (Solo) 490 ft. Fuel Burn 75% Power: 3.17 gal./hr. Max Range 75% Power: 535 nm Rate Of Climb: 785 ft./min. Service ceiling: 12,000 ft Seats: 2 tandem Landing gear: retractable tailwheel
All Aero 