Light Miniature Aircraft LM-1 explained

The Light Miniature Aircraft LM-1, LM-2 and LM-3 are a family of American high wing, conventional landing gear, strut-braced, single engine ultralight aircraft that are scale reproductions of famous general aviation aircraft. The designs were all available as plans from Light Miniature Aircraft of Okeechobee, Florida for amateur construction.[1] [2] [3]

The Light Miniature Aircraft company website domain name expired on 25 May 2010 and has not been renewed.[4] The company seems to have gone out of business about 2010, but Wicks Aircraft continued to provide kits for the designs for a period of time afterwards, although, as of 2022, they no longer do so.[5] [6]

Design and development

The LM-1 family were designed in the mid-1980s during the initial ultralight boom. Many pilots did not find the typical early ultralights that resemble a "flying lawnchair", such as the Pterodactyl Ascender or Eipper Quicksilver confidence inspiring or appealing. The LM line was intended to fit the same FAR Part 103 rules, including its 2540NaN0 empty weight, but provide an aircraft that looks and flies much more like a traditional light aircraft. Many of the family are heavier than the US ultralight rules permit. The LM-1 family consists of a basic aircraft design, rendered in wood or optionally 4130 steel tube, with minor changes in the cowling, window and tail shapes to make them resemble well-known light aircraft. The first in the series, the LM-1 was first flown in 1985. The aircraft are sold as plans, with components or complete kits also available to speed construction time.

All aircraft in the series feature enclosed cabins allowing year-round flying, docile handling characteristics and a 300-hour construction time.

Variants

LM-1A-W
  • Single seat 85% scale replica of a Piper J-3 Cub, powered by a 500NaN0 Rotax 503 engine. Built from wood and covered in doped aircraft fabric. Empty weight 3500NaN0, gross weight 6000NaN0. First flown in 1992.[7]
    LM-1U
  • Single seat 75% scale replica of a Piper J-3 Cub, built from wood and covered in doped aircraft fabric. Empty weight 2520NaN0, gross weight 5000NaN0. Fits the US ultralight category.
    LM-1X
  • Single seat 75% scale replica of a Piper J-3 Cub, powered by a 400NaN0 Rotax 447 engine. Built from steel tube and covered in doped aircraft fabric. Empty weight 3000NaN0, gross weight 6000NaN0. First flown in 1985.
    LM-1-2P-W Puddle Jumper
  • Two seat 85% scale replica of a Piper J-3 Cub, powered by a 640NaN0 Rotax 582 engine. Built from wood and covered in doped aircraft fabric. Empty weight 4300NaN0, gross weight 8750NaN0.
    LM-2U
  • Single seat 75% scale replica of a Taylorcraft B, built from wood and covered in doped aircraft fabric. Empty weight 2520NaN0, gross weight 5000NaN0. Fits the US ultralight category.
    LM-2X
  • Single seat 75% scale replica of a Taylorcraft B, powered by a 400NaN0 Rotax 447 engine. Built from steel tube and covered in doped aircraft fabric. Empty weight 3000NaN0, gross weight 6000NaN0. First flown in 1987.
    LM-2X-2P
  • Two seat 75% scale replica of a Taylorcraft B, powered by a 640NaN0 Rotax 582 engine. Built from steel tube and covered in doped aircraft fabric.
    LM-2X-2P-W
  • Two seat 75% scale replica of a Taylorcraft B, powered by a 640NaN0 Rotax 582 engine. Built from wood and covered in doped aircraft fabric. Empty weight 4600NaN0, gross weight 8750NaN0. First flown in 1987.
    LM-3U
  • Single seat 75% scale replica of an Aeronca Champ, built from wood and covered in doped aircraft fabric. Empty weight 2520NaN0, gross weight 5000NaN0. Fits the US ultralight category.
    LM-3X
  • Single seat 75% scale replica of an Aeronca Champ, powered by a 400NaN0 Rotax 447 engine. Built from steel tube and covered in doped aircraft fabric. Empty weight 3000NaN0, gross weight 6000NaN0. First flown in 1987.
    LM-3X-W
  • Single seat 75% scale replica of an Aeronca Champ, powered by a 500NaN0 Rotax 503 engine. Built from wood and covered in doped aircraft fabric. Empty weight 3350NaN0, gross weight 6000NaN0.

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 55. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
    2. Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page B-38. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001.
    3. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 197. BAI Communications.
    4. Web site: Lightminiatureaircraft.com. 5 June 2010. . May 2010.
    5. Web site: Aircraft Kits. https://web.archive.org/web/20130307175017/http://aircraftproducts.wicksaircraft.com/category/aircraft-kits . 2013-03-07 . 13 March 2015. Wicks Aircraft.
    6. Web site: Wicks Aircraft and Motorsports. 4 September 2022. Wicks Aircraft and Motorsports. www.wicksaircraft.com. 2022.
    7. Web site: Kit Planes, Plans & Manuals. 1 June 2010. Light Miniature Aircraft. May 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080531140141/http://www.lightminiatureaircraft.com/Plans_Manuals.htm. 31 May 2008.

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