Miller JM-2

JM-2
Role	Homebuilt air racer
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	JW Miller Aviation
Designer	Jim W Miller
Status	Production completed
Variants	Miller-Bohannon JM-2 Pushy Galore

The Miller JM-2 was an American Formula One Air Racing homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Jim W Miller and produced by JW Miller Aviation of Marble Falls, Texas. When it was available, the aircraft was supplied in the form of plans for construction by amateurs. ^[1]

Design and development

Miller opted for an unorthodox configuration in developing a racing aircraft that would be as fast as possible on 100 hp (75 kW). The JM-2 features a cantilever mid-wing, a single-seat enclosed open cockpit under a bubble canopy, tricycle landing gear with fixed main wheels and a retractable nose wheel, and a single engine in pusher configuration, mounted within a fan shroud, with the spinner acting as the aircraft's tailcone. The fan shroud structure provides a place to mount the rudders and the tailplane is mounted high in T-tail configuration as an extension of the shroud. There is a small canard surface mounted on the nose. ^{[1] [2]}

The aircraft is of mixed construction, with the fuselage made from four fiberglass panels and the 15.0 ft (4.6 m) span wing covered in fiberglass and resin-reinforced honeycomb material. As required by the Formula One rules, the engine used was a 100 hp (75 kW) Continental O-200B powerplant, the "B" being the pusher-configured version of the engine. ^[1]

The JM-2 has an empty weight of 630 lb (290 kg) and a gross weight of 1,100 lb (500 kg), giving a useful load of 470 lb (210 kg). With full fuel of 12 U.S. gallons (45 L; 10.0 imp gal) the payload is 398 lb (181 kg). ^[1]

The JM-2 was further developed into the one-of-a-kind racing aircraft, the Miller-Bohannon JM-2 Pushy Galore. ^[3]

Operational history

By October 2013, three examples had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration including the sole Miller-Bohannon JM-2 Pushy Galore. None of the aircraft remain registered. ^{[4] [ as of? ]}

One of the two stock JM-2s built was destroyed while racing in the Reno Air Races at Reno, Nevada on 15 September 1989, when it flew through a dust devil and broke up in flight, killing the pilot. ^{[5] [6]}

Specifications (JM-2)

Data from Plane and Pilot ^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Length: 19 ft 0 in (5.79 m)
• Wingspan: 15 ft 0 in (4.57 m)
• Empty weight: 630 lb (286 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,100 lb (499 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 12 U.S. gallons (45 L; 10.0 imp gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Continental O-200B four cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 100 hp (75 kW)
• Propellers: 4-bladed fan mounted in a ducted shroud

Performance

• Maximum speed: 235 mph (378 km/h, 204 kn)
• Cruise speed: 190 mph (310 km/h, 170 kn)
• Stall speed: 70 mph (110 km/h, 61 kn)
• Range: 300 mi (480 km, 260 nmi)
• Rate of climb: 1,600 ft/min (8.1 m/s)

References

1. Plane and Pilot: 1978 Aircraft Directory, page 147. Werner & Werner Corp, Santa Monica CA, 1977. ISBN   0-918312-00-0
2. "American airplanes: Mi - Mu". Aerofiles. February 4, 2001. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
3. "Miller-Bohannon JM-2 Pushy Galore". Airventure Museum. 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
4. Federal Aviation Administration (October 13, 2013). "Make / Model Inquiry Results" . Retrieved October 13, 2013.
5. Federal Aviation Administration (October 13, 2013). "N-Number Inquiry Results - N74M" . Retrieved October 13, 2013.
6. National Transportation Safety Board (June 26, 1992). "Brief of Accident" (PDF). Retrieved October 13, 2013.

External links

• Photo of the stock JM-2 that later crashed at Reno