<!-- This article is a part of Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft. Please see Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout. --> {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}} {{Use British English|date=March 2018}} {{Infobox aircraft |name=Leopard |image=CMC Leopard complete.jpg |caption=CMC Leopard G-BRNM on display at the Midland Air Museum |type=Business jet |manufacturer=Chichester-Miles Consultants |designer=Ian Chichester-Miles |first_flight=12 December 1988 |introduction= |retired= |status=Project cancelled, both aircraft withdrawn from use |primary_user= |more_users= |produced= |number_built=2 |variants= }} The '''CMC Leopard''' was a British light personal business jet developed in the 1980s. Two prototypes were built and flown, but the type was never put into production.
==Design and development== The Leopard was a twin-jet, mid-wing monoplane of composite construction with all-swept flying surfaces and jet fighter-like styling, apart from the podded engines, mounted on each side of the rear fuselage. The entire canopy hinged forward to allow access to the four reclining seats.<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1986/1986%20-%202313.html?search=chichester-miles |title=Leopard ready to leap |work=Flight International |date=6 September 1986 |page=21}}</ref>
A mockup was completed in 1982, leading to a prototype (registration {{Airreg|G|BKRL}}) built by the Designability company. The prototype first flew late in 1988. Development suffered a major setback when the engine manufacturer, Noel Penny Turbines, ceased business, leading to the grounding of the prototype. A second, refined prototype (registration {{Airreg|G|BRNM}}) was then constructed to use Williams International turbofans. This aircraft also incorporated a pressurised cabin, revised undercarriage, and a generally strengthened airframe. This second prototype was unveiled at the 1996 Farnborough International Airshow and first flew on 9 April 1997.
The project never progressed beyond the two aircraft built, later redesignated '''Leopard Four''' to distinguish them from a six-seat variant proposed in 2001, the '''Leopard Six'''. The EJ22 engine could no longer be used due to exclusive deal between Williams and Eclipse,<ref name="FlightG">{{cite news|last1=Sarsfield|first1=Kate|title=Chichester Miles spots new market for Leopard Six jet|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/chichester-miles-spots-new-market-for-leopard-six-jet-127619/|accessdate=27 March 2016|work=Flight International|publisher=Flightglobal|date=20 March 2001}}</ref> resulting in the Six being proposed to make use of the larger FJ33. Chief aircraft designer and CMC chairman Ian Chichester-Miles died in 2009, bringing the enterprise to an end.<ref name="Times">{{cite news|title=Obituaries - Ian Chichester-Miles: aircraft designer|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/ian-chichester-miles-aircraft-designer-25ddp867xnj|access-date=27 March 2016|work=The Times|publisher=Times Newspapers|date=15 October 2009}}</ref>
==Aircraft on display== thumb|CMC Leopard G-BRNM in 1997 at Cranfield Until 2007, both prototype Leopards, G-BKRL and G-BRNM, were on display at the Bournemouth Aviation Museum. With the museum's temporary closure and relocation in 2008, only the former was retained and moved to the new site, while G-BRNM was acquired by the Midland Air Museum at Coventry Airport.<ref name="BAM-1">{{cite web|title=Chichester-Miles Leopard G-BKRL|url=http://www.aviation-museum.co.uk/index.php?id=17|website=Bournemouth Aviation Museum|accessdate=28 March 2016}}</ref><ref name="MAM">{{cite web|title=Latest News|url=http://www.midlandairmuseum.co.uk/news.php?id=24|website=Midland Air Museum|date=12 April 2008|accessdate=28 March 2016}}</ref>
==Specifications (second prototype) == {{Aircraft specs |prime units? = imp |crew=One pilot |capacity=3 passengers |length m=7.54 |length ft=24 |length in=9 |span m=7.16 |span ft=23 |span in=6 |height m=2.06 |height ft=6 |height in=9 |wing area sqm=5.85 |wing area sqft=63 |eng1 number=2 |eng1 name=Williams FJX-1 |eng1 kn=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->3.1 |eng1 lbf=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->700 |max speed kmh=869 |max speed mph=540 |range km=2,778 |range miles=1,726 |ceiling m=16,765 |ceiling ft=55,000 |climb rate ms=32.7 |climb rate ftmin=6,340 }} <!-- ==See also== --> {{aircontent <!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. --> |related=<!-- related developments --> |similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft --> |lists=<!-- related lists --> |see also=<!-- other relevant information --> }}
==References== {{Commons category}} {{Reflist}} * {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |pages=922 }} * {{cite book |title=World Aircraft Information Files |publisher=Bright Star Publishing|location=London |pages=File 891 Sheet 27 }} {{Portalbar|England|Transport}} Category:Chichester-Miles aircraft Category:1980s British business aircraft Category:Abandoned civil aircraft projects of the United Kingdom Category:Twinjets Category:Mid-wing aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1988