Nesmith Cougar Explained

The Nesmith Cougar is a light aircraft that was developed in the United States in the 1950s and marketed for homebuilding.[1]

Development

The design, by Robert Nesmith,[2] is a conventional high-wing, strut-braced monoplane with fixed tailwheel undercarriage. The pilot and a single passenger were seated side by side. The fuselage and empennage were of welded steel-tube construction, while the wings were of wood, and the whole aircraft was fabric-covered. Some later aircraft were fitted with a tricycle undercarriage.The original Cougar design was marketed by Nesmith himself. His intent was to market a low-cost aircraft for homebuilders. He also used the aircraft as a troubled youth project to encourage teens to work together toward a goal.[3] When a modified Cougar won an Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) design competition in 1963, that organization took over selling plans. Rights to the design were eventually purchased by Acro Sport.

The aircraft shape was influenced by the Beechcraft Staggerwing and Wittman Tailwind. The name came from the college of Nesmith's daughter, the University of Houston, whose athletic mascot is a cougar.[4]

Variants

Nesmith M1 Cougar
  • The original design for home building. Powered by 108hp Lycoming.[5]
    Nesmith Cougar Comet
  • Cougar modified with a 125hp Lycoming O-290D.
    Nesmith Chigger & Landoll's Skydoll[6]
  • One example was built with folding wings and Culver Cadet landing gear, called the "Chigger". Another example built with folding wings with automatic control latching. Both aircraft are capable of being towed backwards behind a car.[7]

    References

    . Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1961–62. 1961. Sampson Low, Marston & Company. London. John W. R. Taylor .

    Notes and References

    1. Popular Science. June 1970. All these planes you can build from plans. 99.
    2. Web site: www.aircraftspruce.com . Nesmith Cougar - Two- Place . 2022-08-22 . Aircraft Spruce . en-us.
    3. Experimenter. March 1957. Micheal Nesmith.
    4. Experimenter. March 1957. Micheal Nesmith.
    5. Flying Magazine. November 1960. EAA Fly-In. 37.
    6. Air Progress. Winter 1969. 7.
    7. Sport Aviation. December 1958.

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