Aerocar Mini-IMP

{{Short description|American homebuilt aircraft}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use American English|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox aircraft | name=Aerocar Mini Imp | image=Wright Patterson AFB-Mini Imp.jpg | caption=Mini Imp flyby in 1969 | type=[[Homebuilt aircraft]] | national_origin=[[United States]] | manufacturer= [[Aerocar International]] | designer=[[Moulton Taylor]] | first_flight= | introduction= | retired= | status=Plans available (2015) | primary_user= | more_users=  | produced=  | number_built= | developed_from= [[Aerocar IMP]] | variants= }}

The '''Aerocar Mini-IMP''' ('''I'''ndependently '''M'''ade '''P'''lane) is a light aircraft designed by [[Moulton Taylor]] and marketed for [[homebuilt aircraft|homebuilding]] by [[Aerocar International]]. It is a scaled-down derivative of his original [[Aerocar IMP]] design. A two-seat version called the '''Bullet''' was also built. The Mini-IMP follows the same unconventional layout as its larger predecessor, with a center mounted engine, long driveshaft to a [[Pusher configuration|tail propeller]], and inverted-V rudder/elevators.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mini-imp.com/ |title=Mini-IMP |publisher=Mini-imp.com |date= |accessdate=2012-10-09}}</ref>

The aircraft is available in the form of plans for [[Homebuilt aircraft|amateur construction]]. Following Taylor's death, the plans and licensing for the Mini-IMP have been marketed by the Mini-IMP Aircraft Company of [[Weatherford, Texas]].<ref name="WDLA11">Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011–12'', page 111. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X</ref><ref name="WDLA15">Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: ''World Directory of Light Aviation 2015–16'', page 117. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2011">Vandermeullen, Richard: ''2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide'', Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 61. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref>

==Design and development== The aircraft features a cantilever [[high-wing]], a single-seat enclosed cockpit, fixed or retractable [[tricycle landing gear]] or [[conventional landing gear]] and a single engine in [[pusher configuration]].<ref name="WDLA11"/><ref name="WDLA15"/>

The aircraft is made from riveted [[aluminum]] sheet. Its {{convert|24.5|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing is mounted well behind the pilot and employs a [[NASA]] GA(PC)-1 [[airfoil]]. The engine is mounted behind the pilot's seat driving the propeller through an extension shaft. Engines used include the {{convert|60|to|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Volkswagen air-cooled engine]] [[four-stroke]].<ref name="WDLA11"/><ref name="WDLA15"/><ref name="Incomplete">{{Cite web|url = http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html|title = The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage|accessdate = 3 January 2012|last = Lednicer|first = David|year = 2010|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130809234123/http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html|archive-date = 9 August 2013|url-status = dead|df = dmy-all}}</ref>

Taylor claimed the Mini-IMP was not an original design, but an updated version of the 1912 [[Edson Fessenden Gallaudet]] Bullet, a design that was capable of 110 mph in the earliest days of flight.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Air Progress|date=January 1979|page=18|title=Designers talk about the future}}</ref>

In the late 1970s inquiries were made concerning a military version of the Mini-IMP, skinned with [[Kevlar]], armed with two 7.62-millimeter machine guns, and with room in the baggage compartment for a considerable quantity of ammunition. Nothing came of the proposal.<ref name="Jane's">Jane's Information Group. Jane's All The World's Aircraft, 1981–1982 edition.</ref>

==Specifications (typical Mini-IMP)== {{Aircraft specs |ref=Bayerl and Tacke<ref name="WDLA11"/><ref name="WDLA15"/> |prime units?=imp  |genhide=

|crew=one |capacity= |length m= |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m=7.46 |span ft= |span in= |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg=235 |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg=365 |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |fuel capacity={{convert|12|u.s.gal}} |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Volkswagen air-cooled engine]] |eng1 type=four cylinder, 1835 cc, air-cooled, [[four stroke]] automotive conversion |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=60

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=281 |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh=240 |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh=69 |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms=6 |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==See also== '''Related development:''' *[[Holcomb Perigee]] *[[Aerocar IMP|IMP]] *[[Aerocar Micro-IMP|Micro-IMP]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} *{{Official website|http://www.mini-imp.com/}}

[[Category:Homebuilt aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft]] [[Category:1970s United States civil utility aircraft]] [[Category:Aerocar International aircraft|Mini-IMP]] [[Category:High-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Weatherford, Texas]]