Mite with 0-200

[donald henry]

Yes, it is true. After rebuilding the front section of my Mite to accept a C-85 I flew it for awhile only to end up with a low oil pressure problem with that engine so having access to an 0-200 I put it in. Now I have an engine where parts are no problem getting ( $$$ ) and it has a big alternator, fuel pump, and 100 HP! That is about four times as much as the airplane originally flew with....remember the 25HP Crosley? I've tried several different props, one which was definetlly too long and now is hanging over my door, and finally am using the Flotorp that was on the Lycoming. The airplane has disc brakes, and I'm using an electric actuator to raise and lower the gear now. The cockpit has been moved back about 24 inches so the original gear up-down system no longer could be used. The airplane has had many mods and is in the experimental catagory now. It was serial number 7, built in 1949. I've made it look like what I thought the army would have bought had that contract been chosen. Mooney was in the running with Culver and didn't win.

[Scott Royall]

Don,
I would love to see some photos of your 0-200 Mite. How does it perform? Do you have any drawings or photos of the gear retract system?

[donald henry]

Scott,
I used a liner actuator from an f-86 sabre jet ( 24volt ) that is light in weight and still works well on the 12 volt system although a bit slower. Because it is a screw jack it keeps things in place when it stops up or down.
Nothing really beats the original system designed by Mooney, but this works well. I had to design a secondary gear down and lock feature in case of electrical failure which allows the actuator to drop free and with the help of a tie down winch on a strap will lock the gear in the down position.
The airplane performs quite well especially in climb, but I keep the engine throttled back from its 2750 RPM red line in cruise to about 2200 RPM that gives about a 110-115 MPH. This is the Mite that lost it's vertical stab and rudder while in flight, and I don't want to overstress the airframe to cause any further problems like that again. That event happend while the airplane was in it's original configuration in relation to the tail structure. I often think the engineers would shudder if they realized we were still flying these airplanes, but with proper maintainance and care...why not? The glue in the structure does get old, so I don't push it. I think there are some pic's of this airplane in the previous years fly in, but I will try to post some newer ones.

[Glenn]

Don:

The only thing you are missing is the 30 cal machine guns and the controllable pitch prop and you'd have an M-19. Mil spec's for the 19 can be found on this site.

glenn