The Light Miniature Aircraft LM-1, LM-2 and LM-3 are a family of
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
high wing,
conventional landing gear,
strut-braced
In aeronautics, bracing comprises additional structural members which stiffen the functional airframe to give it rigidity and strength under load. Bracing may be applied both internally and externally, and may take the form of strut, which act in ...
, single engine
ultralight aircraft
Ultralight aviation (called microlight aviation in some countries) is the flying of lightweight, 1- or 2-seat fixed-wing aircraft. Some countries differentiate between weight-shift control and conventional three-axis control aircraft with ailer ...
that are scale reproductions of famous
general aviation aircraft. The designs were all available as plans from
Light Miniature Aircraft of
Okeechobee, Florida for
amateur construction.
[Downey, Julia: ''1999 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 55. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851][Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page B-38. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ][Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', page 197. BAI Communications. ]
The Light Miniature Aircraft company website
domain name expired on 25 May 2010 and has not been renewed.
The company seems to have gone out of business about 2010, but
Wicks Aircraft continued to provide kits for the designs for a period of time afterwards, although, as of 2022, they no longer do so.
Design and development
The LM-1 family were designed in the mid-1980s during the initial ultralight boom. Many pilots did not find the typical early ultralights that resemble a "flying lawnchair", such as the
Pterodactyl Ascender
The Pterodactyl Ascender is a family of United States, U.S. designed and built ultralight aircraft that were sold in kit form between 1979 and 1984 under Pterodactyl Limited and is currently being sold by DFE Ultralights.
With a total ...
or
Eipper Quicksilver
Quicksilver is a line of single and two-place high wing, single-engine, ultralight aircraft that evolved from weight-shift hang gliders including Bob Lovejoy's High Tailer.
The earliest powered version, the Quicksilver C, was created as a se ...
confidence inspiring or appealing. The LM line was intended to fit the same
FAR Part 103 rules, including its empty weight, but provide an aircraft that looks and flies much more like a traditional
light aircraft. Many of the family are heavier than the US ultralight rules permit.
The LM-1 family consists of a basic aircraft design, rendered in wood or optionally
4130 steel
41xx steel is a family of SAE steel grades, as specified by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Alloying elements include chromium and molybdenum, and as a result these materials are often informally referred to as chromoly steel (common ...
tube, with minor changes in the cowling, window and tail shapes to make them resemble well-known light aircraft. The first in the series, the LM-1 was first flown in 1985. The aircraft are sold as plans, with components or complete kits also available to speed construction time.
All aircraft in the series feature enclosed cabins allowing year-round flying, docile handling characteristics and a 300-hour construction time.
Variants
;LM-1A-W
:Single seat 85% scale replica of a
Piper J-3 Cub, powered by a
Rotax 503 engine. Built from wood and covered in doped
aircraft fabric. Empty weight , gross weight . First flown in 1992.
;LM-1U
:Single seat 75% scale replica of a Piper J-3 Cub, built from wood and covered in doped aircraft fabric. Empty weight , gross weight . Fits the US ultralight category.
;LM-1X
:Single seat 75% scale replica of a Piper J-3 Cub, powered by a
Rotax 447 engine. Built from steel tube and covered in doped aircraft fabric. Empty weight , gross weight . First flown in 1985.
;LM-1-2P-W Puddle Jumper
:Two seat 85% scale replica of a Piper J-3 Cub, powered by a
Rotax 582 engine. Built from wood and covered in doped aircraft fabric. Empty weight , gross weight .
;LM-2U
:Single seat 75% scale replica of a
Taylorcraft B, built from wood and covered in doped aircraft fabric. Empty weight , gross weight . Fits the US ultralight category.
;LM-2X
:Single seat 75% scale replica of a Taylorcraft B, powered by a Rotax 447 engine. Built from steel tube and covered in doped aircraft fabric. Empty weight , gross weight . First flown in 1987.
;LM-2X-2P
:Two seat 75% scale replica of a Taylorcraft B, powered by a Rotax 582 engine. Built from steel tube and covered in doped aircraft fabric.
;LM-2X-2P-W
:Two seat 75% scale replica of a Taylorcraft B, powered by a Rotax 582 engine. Built from wood and covered in doped aircraft fabric. Empty weight , gross weight . First flown in 1987.
;LM-3U
:Single seat 75% scale replica of an
Aeronca Champ, built from wood and covered in doped aircraft fabric. Empty weight , gross weight . Fits the US ultralight category.
;LM-3X
:Single seat 75% scale replica of an Aeronca Champ, powered by a Rotax 447 engine. Built from steel tube and covered in doped aircraft fabric. Empty weight , gross weight . First flown in 1987.
;LM-3X-W
:Single seat 75% scale replica of an Aeronca Champ, powered by a Rotax 503 engine. Built from wood and covered in doped aircraft fabric. Empty weight , gross weight .
Specifications (LM-1X)
See also
References
External links
* - former location
Light Miniature Aircrafton
Archive.orgPhoto of an LM-1
{{Light Miniature Aircraft
Light Miniature Aircraft aircraft
1980s United States ultralight aircraft