MSFS 2024 Status:
Waiting for marketplace launch
Support the site - donate!

Mini IMP

A1R Design Bureau

SPORTV TAILTRAINERPERFORMANCEHOMEBUILT

3.7/5 (14)

The Mini IMP is a unique light aircraft designed for both cost-effectiveness and high performance. It features a high-wing design, a single-seat enclosed cockpit, retractable tricycle landing gear, and a pusher configuration engine.

The fuselage offers a sturdy yet lightweight structure, primarily constructed from aluminum sheets riveted together, with some fiberglass components for enhanced aesthetics and aerodynamics. The wing, positioned behind the pilot, utilizes a NASA GA(PC)-1 airfoil for optimized aerodynamic performance. Its distinguishing feature is an inverted "V" tail configuration, which not only enhances flight performance but also simplifies construction and reduces both weight and cost. The plane is powered by a Lycoming O-235 aircraft engine, positioned in the middle of the fuselage and driving the propeller through an extension shaft.

This combination of innovative design elements and reliable engineering makes the plane a compelling option for enthusiasts seeking a versatile and efficient light aircraft solution.

The Aerocar Mini-IMP is a single-seat, single-engine, homebuilt light sport aircraft developed by American aviation company Aerocar International. The innovative design was conceived by American aerospace engineer Moulton “Molt” Taylor. Taylor developed the Mini-IMP from his earlier design, the Aerocar IMP, “Independently Made Plane.”

Taylor began his aviation work in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, he developed one of the world’s first workable flying cars, the Aerocar. He followed this with a series of homebuilt models, including an amphibious aircraft called the Coot. The Mini-IMP is one of the engineer’s most notable designs due to its modern, sleek form and excellent performance.

The Mini-IMP features an elongated, tear-shaped fuselage with a roomy cockpit and a high-visibility canopy. It has a high-mounted, high-aspect-ratio main wing that uses the NASA GA-PC(1) airfoil and has fully reflexing flaperons for control surfaces. It has a fully trimmable inverted V-tail empennage and retractable tricycle landing gear. It is powered by a mid-mounted piston engine with a shaft to a pusher propeller. The aircraft is constructed primarily of aluminum sheeting.

The Mini-IMP measures 17 feet in length, stands 4 feet high, and has a wingspan of 24 feet, 6 inches. When using a 100-horsepower engine, it has a range of 500 miles, a service ceiling of 20,000 feet above sea level, and it climbs at up to 1,200 feet per minute. It has a cruising speed of 180 miles per hour, a maximum speed of 200 mph, and a stall speed of 45 mph. It has a take-off and landing run of 800 feet and can handle load factors of +6g to -4g.

Specifications

CRUISE SPEED156 KTAS
MAX ALTITUDE20000 Ft
EMPTY WEIGHT830 lb
MAX WEIGHT1200 lb
LENGTH17 Ft
WINGSPAN25 Ft
RANGE600 NM
ENGINELycoming O-235