Jurca MJ-51 Sperocco

Last updated
MJ-51 Sperocco
RoleLow-wing 2-seat aerobatic aircraft
National origin France
Designer Marcel Jurca
First flight6 June 2019
Number built3
Developed from Jurca MJ-5 Sirocco

The Jurca MJ-51 Sperocco (Special Sirocco) is a plans-built two-seat tandem aerobatic aircraft derived from the Jurca MJ-5 Sirocco.

Contents

Design and development

Encouraged by friends and previous customers, Marcel Jurca developed the MJ-51 in 1969 as an improved, higher power Sirocco. It has a longer, more rounded, stronger fuselage capable of engines up to 360 hp (268 kW) and the wings of the MJ-7 Gnatsum without dihedral. Other changes include a raised rear seat, a longer canopy and a smaller tail. [1] Jurca said that it was his favourite two-seat design. [2]

There are two variants - the MJ-51B for engines of 200 hp (149 kW), and the MJ-51C for engines from 260 hp (194 kW) up to 300 hp (224 kW). [3]

Three examples have been started, each varying from the basic design in collaboration with Jurca himself. Construction of the first prototype started in France in around 1981. It was to be powered by a 200 hp (149 kW) Lycoming AEIO-360. The builder died in 2004 and the project remains incomplete. [1] [3]

The second example was started in the USA in 1991. It has a 260 hp (194 kW) Lycoming IO-540 engine, uprated to 285 hp (213 kW) and made its first flight on 6 June 2019. [1] [3] In 2021, the aircraft, registered N3LM, won the Homebuilt Plansbuilt Grand Champion Gold Lindy at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. [4] [5]

The third aircraft was started in France in 1999 with a plan to install a Potez 260 hp (194 kW) engine. Transferred to a different builder, the design has been changed and strengthened to accommodate a 300 hp (224 kW) Lycoming AEIO-540 Other modifications will include a two-door canopy, a larger and more accessible rear seat, additional fuel tanks, advanced avionics and uprated brakes. The aircraft has yet to fly (October 2019). [3]

Specifications (MJ-51)

Data from Avions Marcel Jurca [6]

General characteristics

Performance

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Walter Van Tilborg Collection No 11907". 1000 Aircraft Photos. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  2. "Marcel Jurca Interview 1996". Avions Marcel Jurca. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "MJ-51 Sperocco". Avions Marcel Jurca. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  4. Henze, Erin (October 2021). "They Waited to Win, the 2021 Lindy Awards". EAA Sport Aviation. 70 (10): 48.
  5. "It's a Sperocco". YouTube. EAA. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  6. "Les Avions Marcel Jurca 1956-2016 (PDF in French)". Avions Marcel Jurca. Retrieved 22 October 2019.