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Micro Mong
The Micro Mong was designed by Ed
Fisher, of Northeast Ohio. (Not to be confused with another Fisher
named Mike. They are not related.) Ed First designed the Zippy
Sport, which was officially introduced 1983, and was marketed
through Fishercraft. Green Sky Adventures, Inc. eventually bought
the "proof of plans" prototype Zippy Sport from Ed in 1986. The
aircraft was put to immediate use to gain knowledge on the operation
of Rotax engines on fast (relatively speaking) airplanes and serves
that purpose still, today. Eventually, Green Sky purchased the
design rights for the Zippy Sport, and still offers Plans for that
design.
Ed went on designing other
airplanes. His "Skylite" Ultralight gained a lot of attention,
winning Grand Champion Ultralight at Oshkosh in 1991. Under the name
of Raceair, plans and components were developed and marketed for the
Skylite. Green Sky Adventures, Inc added some Raceair items to its
product line shortly thereafter.
For Oshkosh 93, Ed was back with
another new design, the Micro Mong. Inspired by the legendary Mong
Sport, and it’s designer Ralph Mong, Ed had set out to replicate the
timeless elegance of that Midget Biplane but to do it in such a way
as to conform to FAA part 103 regulation. That was no small task!
Usually, replica airplanes are smaller than what they are
replicating. With the Micro Mong "Ultralight", the opposite was
true. Primarily, there was no way to get within the calculations for
part 103 with less wing area than the Mong Sport. Some other
"calculated" factors that allowed the racy little plane to conform
were partially exposed engine, engine HP/propeller combination, and
permanently deployed full span flaps (the ailerons were drooped
about 3 degrees)
Ed worked diligently, after
Oshkosh, and within a few months, his Raceair Company began selling
plans and components for the Micro Mong. Just as with the Skylite,
Green Sky added the new Raceair items to its product line. Plans
were made to have the Micro Mong at Green Sky’s Sun n Fun booth in
April.
The President of Green Sky was so
impressed with the Micro Mong, that within three months, he and his
brother formed Pyma Lake Aircraft Corp, purchased the Micro Mong
design, and arranged exclusive marketing with Green Sky Adventures,
Inc. Pla Corp. built the proof of plans aircraft, then built steel
jigs and fixtures and organized many of the details of kit
production. A plan to move the operation to Florida prior to
establishing a dedicated production team is an unachieved goal as of
this writing. Green Sky Adventures, Inc has acquired the assets of
Pla Corp. Green Sky believes the biplane nostalgia helps to make the
Micro Mong’s popularity timeless. Conversely, its’ single place,
open cockpit configuration undoubtedly limits that popularity. For
that reason, a philosophy of high quality, limited but continuous
production is realistic.
The slow process of relocation
from Ohio to Florida has kept Micro Mong kit production in limbo.
Quite a few builders have completed their aircraft. Much of the
promotional material and information describing details of the kit
has been updated. However the Micro Mong design remains pretty much
frozen. No major changes are expected at this time. Differences
between Kit version and Plans version are so few, that an original
plans set is still supplied with the Micro Mong kit as the primary
"Bible" for assembly.
specifications
powerplant
propeller
length
height
wing span
wing area
seats
empty weight
useful load
gross weight
fuel capacity
range |
Rotax
x
14'
6'
19' 6"
100
sq ft
x
400
lb
x
650 lb
x
x |
performance
takeoff distance,
ground roll
rate of climb
max speed
cruise speed
landing distance, ground roll
service ceiling |
200
ft
1000
fpm
110
mph
80
mph
400
ft
x |
limiting and recommended speeds
design manoeuvring speed (Va)
never exceed speed (Vne)
stall, power off (Vsl)
landing approach speed |
x
x
35
mph
x |
All specifications are based on manufacturer's
calculations
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