Mitchellwing U2

Basic UltraLight Motorized welcome to the world of low-budget flying

This flying wing looks sometimes expensive. But the basic model is not!

Clearly visible is the wing configuration: flying wing, wingtip rudders, elevons. (Permission to use picture from Richard Avalon of U S Pacific)

U S Pacific describes the U2 as:

"The U-2 has high quality wood and aircraft fabric construction. The pilot sits in the wing, under a bubble canopy. This keeps him out of the weather and maintains the aircraft's sleek, streamlined appearance. In winter months, solar energy entering through the canopy comfortably warms the cockpit. In the summer the canopy may be removed and a fairing can be mounted.

The outer wing panels of the U-2 fold up along the main wing section, exactly like the B-10. This allows for the dimension-downsizing necessary for transportation via truck or trailer. At the launch site, it takes less then 15 minutes to prepare it for flight.

The U-2 is comfortable in front of a 20 horse power engine and together they weigh in at just over 300 lbs. But if higher performance is a goal, this aircraft can certainly entertain larger engines. Design features provide a stress factor of +/- 6 G's. Electric start and foldable prop can be added to make the U-2 a truly remarkable soaring machine.

Don Mitchell felt that the basic U-2 design could be home-built by the average airplane buff in about 350 hours, with perhaps another 100 hours required for the paint job, interior appointments and other conveniences not essential to the plane's flight characteristics."

Using a small engine, you can use it as a motorized glider. (Permission to use picture from Richard Avalon of U S Pacific)

Span: 10,36 m (34 ft)
Wing area: 12,63 m² (136 sq ft)
Length: 2,74 m (9 ft)
Empty weight: 145 kg (320 lbs)
Payload: 159 kg (350 lbs)
Seats: 1 +/- 4 g
Conventional 3-axis steering
Aspect Ratio: 8
Cruise speed: 64 - 121 km/h (40-75 mph)
Max. cruise speed (sea level): 153 km/h (95 mph)
Fuel consumption: 4,5 - 7,5 l/h (1,2 - 2 gph)
Glide ratio: 22
Rate of climb: 183 km/h (600 fpm)
(with Zenoah 250 engine)
Ceiling: 3657m (12 000 ft)
Stall Speed: 55 km/h (34 mph)
Take off and landing: 76 m (250 ft)

It seems that kits are no longer available. But plans can be bought by contacting ubaziam@yahoo.com

The roots of the Mitchellwing

Hangglider

If you want to know more about the origin of this airplane. Go see the page about the Mitchellwing hangglider that started it all.

The Mitchelwing B-10

There is another version of the Mitchellwing, the B-10. It is a version with a pod under the wing. I guess it was the first edition of the motorized Mitchellwing.

Comments of a Mitchellwing B-10 user

When i read about somebody having flown the motorised Mitchellwing B-10, i contacted him.

"Mike Peters, i just wonder. The Mitchellwing had a inverted steering stick. It hung from the wing downwards. How did it feel to use it? Was it confusing afterwards when going back to a normal stick?"

His reply: "Not really! The direction of travel is the same. It was quite comfortable, in that I could rest my arm on the diagonal cage support and control it with finger movements. Tip rudders did most of the roll work, though.

Lot of adverse yaw, if you used aileron only.

Very efficient flyer! Once, I was flying along with the KFM 25 HP engine and one of the spark plug leads came off. I didn't wire them, thinking that they weren't upside down, so they wouldn't come off. Bad assumption! Anyway, I flew home on one cylinder. :)"

I found some more talk of Mike Peters about his B-10.Buzz Shannon: "Didn't they have like a 16:1 glide ratio?"
Mike: "Yep, Buzz, and about 250'/min sink rate."

Mike:"The A-10 had a much longer stick on the floor which dampened the control movements some."

Mike: "The control surfaces were balanced on the B-10. They were counter weighted."

At the bottom of this page are a few Mitchellwing News Bulletins. Mostly about the B10. But some refer to the U2 as well.