Mini Coupe

Last updated
Mini Coupe
Mini Coupe College Park.JPG
Role Kit aircraft
Manufacturer Chris Tena Aircraft, DCS Inc.
DesignerBill Johnson
First flightSeptember 1970
Primary userprivate owners

The Mini Coupe is a single engine, single place, aluminum construction, low-wing aircraft with a twin rudder layout. [1] The aircraft shares the same basic configuration as the larger Erco Ercoupe, providing the basis for the name Mini Coupe. The complete parts kit for the aircraft is no longer sold. Plans are available for scratch building the aircraft.

Contents

Development

DCS Mini Coupe DCS Mini Coupe.JPG
DCS Mini Coupe

The Mini Coupe was designed to be built using simple tools and techniques, relying on extensive use of pop-riveted aluminum construction. Originally designed to take advantage of low-cost VW engines, the Mini Coupe can accept various engines of between 65 and 100 hp (48 and 75 kW). The ailerons and twin rudders are push-pull tube operated. The original kit was sold in 1974 for $1694 with a total parts cost of about $2400. The kit included all construction materials for the aircraft. [2] If built to specifications, it meets the requirements to be certified as an Experimental Aircraft meeting Light Sport Aircraft criteria.

The Mini Coupe kit rights were marketed by Chris Tena, then Bill and Jerry Johnson (Bill Johnson and Chris Tenea were one and the same; Chris was Bill's wife, after whom he named the airplane.) "Sport International", then finally Buck Sport Aviation. [3]

Specifications (Mini Coupe with VW Engine)

Data frommanufacturer’s website [4]

General characteristics

Performance

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eipper Quicksilver</span> American ultralight aircraft

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monnett Sonerai</span> American homebuilt aircraft

The Sonerai is a small, VW-powered homebuilt aircraft, designed by John Monnett. The Sonerai began to compete as a single-seat, mid-wing, tailwheel Formula-V racer class formed in 1972. The Sonerai soon evolved into a two-seat model called the Sonerai II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">InterPlane Skyboy</span> Type of aircraft

The InterPlane Skyboy is a two-seat, side-by-side, high wing, single engine, pusher configuration ultralight aircraft that was manufactured as a completed aircraft by InterPlane Aircraft of Zbraslavice, Czech Republic.

The Kolb Kolbra and King Kolbra are a family of American tandem two seater, high wing, strut-braced, pusher configuration, conventional landing gear-equipped ultralight aircraft that are produced in kit form by New Kolb Aircraft of London, Kentucky and intended for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milholland Legal Eagle</span> American ultralight aircraft

The Milholland Legal Eagle is an American high wing, strut-braced, single engine, tractor configuration, conventional landing gear-equipped ultralight aircraft that is available as plans from Better Half VW of Brookshire, Texas, and also produced in kit form by J&N Bolding Enterprises of Baytown, Texas, and is intended for amateur construction.

The Pop's Props Zing is a single seat, open-cockpit, parasol wing, single-engine monoplane, first flown in 1996. The aircraft was designed by Scott Land and produced by Pop's Props of Cooksville, Illinois in the form of plans and an aircraft kit. The company is no longer in business and the aircraft kit is now available from Simplex Aeroplanes of Old Saybrook, Connecticut.

The RagWing RW4 Midwing Sport is a single seat, strut-braced mid wing, single engine ultralight aircraft designed by Roger Mann and sold as plans by RagWing Aircraft Designs for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sport Flight Talon</span> Type of aircraft

The Sport Flight Talon is a high-wing, pusher configuration single-engine, conventional landing gear homebuilt aircraft or ultralight aircraft, that was produced by Sport Flight Aviation of Sandy, Oregon in kit form for amateur construction.

The Precision Tech Fergy F-II B is a two-seat side-by-side, conventional landing gear, strut-braced, high-wing, pusher configuration ultralight aircraft that was manufactured by Ferguson Aircraft and later Precision Tech Aircraft in kit form for amateur construction. The aircraft is out of production and no longer available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avid Flyer</span> Type of aircraft

The Avid Flyer is a family of American single engine, high-wing, strut-braced, conventional landing gear-equipped, two seat ultralight aircraft designed for kit construction in the 1980s. Its several variants sold in large numbers. In 1987 a Flyer became the first ultralight to land at the North Pole.

The Rotec Rally is a family of American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Bill Adaska in 1977 and produced by Rotec Engineering of Duncanville, Texas. Adaska had been an aeronautical engineer at Bell Helicopter and the French helicopter manufacturer, Aerospatiale, prior to starting Rotec. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Thor T/A is a Canadian ultralight aircraft that was designed by Thorsten B. Strenger and produced by Thor Air of Weston, Ontario. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Para-Ski XS is a Canadian powered parachute that was designed and produced by Para-Ski of Mascouche, Quebec. The aircraft was supplied as a completed aircraft or as component kits for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hummel Ultracruiser</span> American ultralight airplane

The Hummel Ultracruiser is an American amateur-built aircraft, designed by Morry Hummel and produced by Hummel Aviation. The aircraft is supplied as a kit or plans for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Aircraft Vision</span> American light aircraft

The World Aircraft Vision, also called the Sentinel, is an American STOL amateur-built aircraft, produced by the World Aircraft Company. The aircraft was publicly introduced at Sun 'n Fun in 2012 and production is expected to commence in 2014. It is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bearhawk LSA</span> American homebuilt airplane

The Bearhawk LSA is an American amateur-built light-sport aircraft, designed by Bob Barrows and produced by Bearhawk Aircraft of Austin, Texas. The aircraft is supplied in the form of plans or a kit for amateur construction.

The Team Mini-Max AeroMax is an American amateur-built aircraft and light-sport aircraft, produced by Team Mini-Max of Niles, Michigan. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The North American Rotorwerks Pitbull Ultralight is an American autogyro, designed and produced by North American Rotorwerks of Tukwila, Washington. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction, but by 2013 production had been suspended.

The Apollo Jet Star is a Hungarian ultralight trike, designed and produced by Apollo Ultralight Aircraft of Eger. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

The Laron Wizard is an American homebuilt aircraft produced by Laron Aviation Tech of Borger, Texas. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

References

  1. ↑ Peter Abbott III. "the Easy-To-Assemble Mini Coupe". Plane and Pilot Homebuilt Aircraft 1974 Annual.
  2. ↑ Sheldon M Gallagher and Howard Levy (September 1974). "Mini Coupe VW powered midget you build from a kit". Popular Mechanics: 78.
  3. ↑ "Mini Coupe". Archived from the original on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
  4. ↑ "Mini Coupe". DCS Inc. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.