Smith XP-99 Prop-Jet

{{Infobox aircraft | name = XP-99 Prop-Jet | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Six seat business aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = Mike Smith Aero Inc | design_group = | designer = Mike Smith | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 1 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 29 July 1982 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Smith X-99 Prop-Jet''' was a six-seat turboprop powered business aircraft designed in the United States in the 1980s. Only one was built.

==Design and development==

The Prop-Jet was an attempt to produce a small, propeller driven business aircraft capable of cruising at speeds above 350 mph (560 km/h). It was powered by a 550 shp (410 kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 turboprop engine, mounted in a long nose and driving a four blade, constant speed propeller. The fuselage was a monocoque constructed from graphite and glass-fibre epoxy sandwich. The pressurised cabin accommodated pilot and five passengers in three rows of seats, with a baggage space behind. Access was by port side doors forward and another over the trailing edge on the other side. The tail unit was made from Kevlar/graphite/glass fibre epoxy sandwich. The fin was swept and the tailplane mounted, with anhedral, almost at the top of it. The elevator carried an electrically driven trim tab.<ref name=JAWA85/>

To speed the completion of the first prototype, the Prop-Jet used the wing and undercarriage of a Beechcraft Baron 58P, though a composite structure wing was envisaged for production aircraft. The Beech wing was a two spar aluminium box structure, without sweep and mounted between mid and low positions with dihedral of 6° and fitted with slotted Fowler flaps. The tricycle undercarriage was enclosed behind doors after retraction.<ref name=JAWA85/>

The Prop-Jet flew for the first time on 29 July 1982. By 1985 Mike Smith was reported as seeking financial backers<ref name=JAWA85/> but only the one prototype Prop-Jet was built.<ref name=aerofiles/>

==Specifications== {{Aircraft specs |ref=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1985–86<ref name=JAWA85/> ''All performance figures at maximum take-off weight except where noted.'' |prime units?=imp  |genhide=

|prop blade number=4 |prop name=Hartzell Propeller Type HC-B4TN-3AL/LT1073F-12-5 |prop dia m=2.29 |prop dia note=constant speed

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh=523 |cruise speed note=economical, at 31,000 ft (9,450 m) |stall speed kmh=138 |stall speed note=flaps down, power off |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range miles=1448 |range note=with maximum payload |ferry range miles=1544 |ferry range note=with maximum fuel |endurance= |ceiling ft=31,000 |ceiling note=service |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms=17.8 |climb rate note= at sea level at weight of 5,182 lb (2,350 kg) |time to altitude= |wing loading kg/m2=244.1 |wing loading note= |power/mass=0.093 shp/lb (0.150 kW/kg) |more performance= *'''Take-off distance to clear 50 ft (15 m):''' 2,376 ft (724 m) *'''Landing distance from 50 ft (15 m):''' 2,498 ft (761 m) |avionics= *Collins nav/com, ADF, transponder *Texas Instruments TI-9100C LORAN *Full blind flying instrumentation }}

{{aircontent  |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= |lists= }}

==References== <references>

<ref name=JAWA85>{{cite book |title= Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1985-1986|last= Taylor|first= John W. R. |year=1985|publisher= Jane's Information Group|location= London|isbn=0710608217|page=518}}</ref>

<ref name=aerofiles>{{cite web |url=http://www.aerofiles.com/_sk.html|title=Aerofiles-Smith XP-99 Prop-Jet |access-date=10 October 2012}}</ref>

</references>

==External links== *[http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/afplots/naca23012.gif NACA 23012 airfoil]

Category:1980s United States business aircraft Category:Single-engined turboprop aircraft Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1982