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The U-2 Experimental Category Motor Glider,
deisgned by Don Mitchell, was first flown
in 1980. It became at that time, and remains
today, the highest performing aircraft
of all lightweight, inexpensive motor
gliders.
Like the B-10, the U-2 shares the same
high quality wood and aircraft fabric
construction. The pilot sits in the wing,
under a bubble canopy. This keeps him
out of the weather and maintains the aircraft's
sleek, streamlined appearance. In winter
months, solar energy entering through
the canopy comfortably warms the cockpit.
In the summer the canopy may be removed
and a fairing can be mounted.
The Mitchell-designed innovation he called
Stabilators are upside-down airfoils than
hang slightly below the trailing wing
edges. They provide downloading for pitch
stability and double as combination elevators
for pitch and ailerons for roll control.
The stabilators are manipulated by the
stick through a mixer box using pull rods
housed inside channels where the outer
wing panels meet the main section when
they are in the unfolded position.
The rudders, each upright on their respective
wingtip, swing outward for directional
control and combined with the stabilators,
provide the same three-axis control as
a conventional aircraft.
The outer wing panels of the U-2 fold up
along the main wing section, exactly like
the B-10. This allows for the dimension-downsizing
necessary for transportion via truck or
trailer. At the launch site, it takes
less then 15 minutes to prepare it for
flight.
The U-2 is comfortable in front of a 20
horse power engine and together they weigh
in at just over 300 lbs. But if higher
performance is a goal, this aicraft can
certainly entertain larger engines. Design
features provide a stress factor of +/-
6 G's. Electric start and foldable prop
can be added to make the U-2 a truly remarkable
soaring machine.
Because of its clean aerodynamic design,
the U-2 easily cruises at 65-70 mph with
less than 2 gal/hr gas consumption. Aviation
Week and Space Technology Magazine pointed
out the B-2 Flying Wing Bomber was between
7-29% more efficient than the B-1 Bomber,
which had a more conventional design.
So there is no question that an all-wing
design easily outperforms a comparable
conventional aircraft.
Doug Colby, a vetran pilot, wrote in Plane
and Pilot , "It's hard to avoid the
conclusion that the Mitchell U-2 was designed
for pure fun, and it delivers quite a
bit of enjoyment for a minimum expediture
of dollars.
Don Dwiggins wrote in Air Progress magazine,
"Flying the U-2 Super Wing is no
sweat. It is, in fact, a delight. Off
in 200 feet and down in half that, U-2
is a good short field runner."
Pilot Jim Foreman, in a 1982 edition of
Soaring, said, "The U-2 is a fun
ship and one which will open the door
to aviation to many people who have been
locked out of the sport over the past
few years due to cost."
Don Mitchell felt that the basic U-2 design
could be home-built by the average airplane
buff in about 350 hours, with perhaps
another 100 hours required for the paint
job, interior appointments and other conveniences
not essential to the plane's flight characteristics.So
what are you waiting for? Why not blow
the dust off those hobby tools in the
garage, order a set of U-2 plans and get
to work? You could be soaring over the
countryside in less time than it takes
a newborn sparrow to find its wings!
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