Mitchell U-2 Superwing

{{short description|Ultralight aircraft}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Use American English|date=January 2021}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name=Mitchell U-2 Superwing | image=20180328 U-2 Superwing Udvar-Hazy.jpg | caption=A Mitchell U-2 superwing at the [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]] | type=[[Ultralight aircraft]] | national_origin=[[United States]] | manufacturer=[[Mitchell Wing Company]] | designer=[[Don Mitchell (aircraft designer)|Don Mitchell]] | first_flight=1980 | introduction= | retired= | status=Plans available | primary_user= | more_users=  | produced=  | number_built= | developed_from=[[Mitchell Wing B-10]] }}

The '''Mitchell U-2 Superwing''' is an American [[Tailless aircraft|tailless]] [[ultralight aircraft]] that was designed by [[Don Mitchell (aircraft designer)|Don Mitchell]] for [[Homebuilt aircraft|amateur construction]].<ref name="Cliche">Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page E-259. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref>

==Design and development== Although the aircraft was designed before the US [[FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles]] rules came into force, the U-2 Superwing complies with them anyway (including the category's maximum empty weight of {{convert|254|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}). The aircraft has a standard empty weight of {{convert|240|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. It features a cantilever [[mid-wing]], a single-seat enclosed cockpit, [[tricycle landing gear]] and a single engine in [[pusher configuration]]. The U-2 is a development of the [[high-wing]] [[Mitchell Wing B-10|B-10]].<ref name="Cliche" />

The aircraft [[fuselage]] is made from welded steel tube, while the wing is of wood and foam, with [[Aircraft dope|doped]] [[aircraft fabric covering]]. Its {{convert|34|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing employs a modified Wortmann FX05-191 [[airfoil]]. The flight controls are unconventional; pitch and roll are controlled by [[elevon]]s and yaw is controlled by the [[wing tip]] [[rudder]]s. The main landing gear has suspension and the nose wheel is steerable and equipped with a brake.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="Incomplete">{{Cite web|url = http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html|title = The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage|accessdate = 1 September 2011|last = Lednicer|first = David|authorlink = |year = 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100420012244/http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html|archive-date = 20 April 2010|url-status = dead}}</ref>

The U-2 can accept a variety of engines ranging from {{convert|25|to|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} mounted in [[pusher configuration]].<ref name="WDLA11">Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 137. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X</ref> ==Operational history==

A pilot flying a U-2 set the World Record Altitude for Class C1 (single-engine land aircraft not exceeding {{convert|661|lb|kg|1|abbr=on}} gross weight) in 1984 when he flew to {{convert|25940|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/mitchell-u-2-superwing/nasm_A19890117000 |title=Mitchell U-2 Superwing |work=National Air and Space Museum |accessdate=2025-10-24}}</ref>

==Specifications (U-2)== [[File:Mitchell U-2 Superwing b.jpg|thumb|Mitchell U-2 Superwing]]

{{Aircraft specs |ref=Cliche<ref name="Cliche" /> |prime units?=imp  |genhide= |crew=one |capacity= |length m= |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m= |span ft=34 |span in= |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=136 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=240 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=550 |gross weight note= |fuel capacity={{convert|3|u.s.gal}} |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Zenoah G25]] |eng1 type= |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=20 |prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note=

|perfhide= |max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=26 |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=180 |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio=20:1 at {{convert|45|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=400 |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=4.04 |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==See also== {{aircontent| |related= |similar aircraft= * [[Aériane Swift]] |sequence= |lists= |see also= * [[Ultralight aviation]] * [[Ultralight aircraft (United States)]] }}

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category|Mitchell U-2 Superwing}} * [http://home.earthlink.net/~mitchellwing/ US Pacific; Current supplier of Mitchell Wing plans] * [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.ameriplanes.com/ AmeriPlanes former manufacturer of Mitchell Wing kits] - website archives on [[Archive.org]]

[[Category:1970s United States ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:Don Mitchell aircraft]] [[Category:Tailless aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1980]] [[Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft]]