Luton Minor
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name = Luton Minor
|image = File:Luton LA-4A Minor AN1578515.jpg
|caption =
|type = Ultralight
|manufacturer = Light Aircraft Association
|designer = C.H. Latimer-Needham
|first_flight = 3 March 1937
|introduction =
|retired =
|produced = 30
|number_built =
|status =
|unit cost =£85 (plans only, 2015)
|primary_user =
|more_users =
|developed_from =
|variants =
}}
The Luton L.A.4 Minor was a 1930s British single-seat high-wing ultra-light aircraft. The prototype was built by the Luton Aircraft Limited, and design plans were later adapted and copies sold for homebuilding.
Design and development
The L.A.3 Minor ultralight was powered by a 35 hp Anzani inverted-vee air-cooled engine, and was of spruce, ply and fabric construction. It was designed by C.H. Latimer-Needham, and built by Luton Aircraft at Barton-in-the-Clay, Bedfordshire in 1936, using the fuselage and components of the earlier experimental L.A.2 tandem-wing aircraft. The prototype L.A.3 Minor, registered G-AEPD, first flew on 3 March 1937 at Heston Aerodrome.Smith (2002) The aircraft was a successful flyer despite the low-powered engine, and it was then redesigned for home construction. Designated the L.A.4 Minor, it had a strutted undercarriage and parallel wing struts. The first L.A.4 Minor was built at the company's new factory (the Phoenix Works) at Gerrards Cross in Buckinghamshire. It was fitted with a 40 hp ABC Scorpion two-cylinder horizontally opposed engine. All subsequent Luton Minors were home-built from plans sold by the company.
The Phoenix Works had burnt down during 1943, and Luton Aircraft had closed, so designer C.H. Latimer-Needham and A.W.J.G. Ord-Hume created a new company in March 1958 to take over the design rights for the Luton Minor. Latimer-Needham updated the design to take more modern lightweight four-cylinder engines and an increased all-up weight. The redesigned aircraft was designated L.A.4A Minor. The design, and subsequently the aircraft, has been built all over the world as a homebuilt aircraft with a wide variety of engines, with the plans for the aircraft being passed on to the Popular Flying Association (now the Light Aircraft Association) in the UK.Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011–12, page 107. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485XTacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 114. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}
Operational history
Reviewers Roy Beisswenger and Marino Boric described the design in a 2015 review, saying, "it has a great deal of period charm and gives a back-to-basics feel, although performance doesn't match more modern designs. Predictable handling and sturdy construction make it a joy to own. A white scarf is a compulsory accessory.".
Variants
;L.A.3 Minor
:Prototype ultralight, one built.
;L.A.4 Minor
:Homebuilt version, one factory built and numerous homebuilt examples.
;L.A.4A Minor
:Updated homebuilt version to take more modern engines, all homebuilt.
;Knowles Duet
:The Knowles Duet was a side-by-side two seat version built by Alf Knowles in 1971, registered G-AYTT.
;Coates Swalesong S.A.I
:A Luton Minor built by James Coates, registered as G-AMAW.
File:Jenny Wren G-ASRF BH 18.05.69 edited-3.jpg in 1969]]
;Gowland Jenny Wren
:A Luton Minor with enclosed cockpit and tricycle landing gear; registered G-ASRF it first flew on 13 OCtober 1966 at Panshanger.
Specifications (L.A.4A)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=British Civil Aircraft 1919–1972: Volume III,Jackson 1988, p. 27. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59{{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59 |editor1-last=Bridgman |editor1-first=Leonard |year=1957 |publisher=Jane's All the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd. |location=London |page=96}}
|prime units?=imp
|crew=1
|length ft=20
|length in=9
|span ft=25
|span in=0
|height ft=6
|height in=3
|wing area sqft=125
|aspect ratio=5
|airfoil=RAF 48 Taylor 1988, pp. 546–547.
|empty weight lb=390
|gross weight lb=627
|max takeoff weight lb=750
|fuel capacity={{cvt|6.5|impgal|USgal l}} with provision for auxiliary tanks in the wings
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Aeronca-J.A.P. J-99
|eng1 type=air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine
|eng1 hp=37
|eng1 note=
::::Alternative engines up to {{cvt|65|hp|0}} can be fitted
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=fixed-pitch propeller
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|max speed mph=85
|cruise speed mph=75
|stall speed mph=28
|range miles=180
|ferry range mi=400
|ferry range note=with auxiliary wing fuel tanks
|wing loading lb/sqft=5
|climb rate ftmin=450
|more performance=
- Take-off run: {{cvt|240|ft|0}}
- Landing run: {{cvt|120|ft|0}}
|power/mass={{cvt|0.0588|hp/lb}}
|avionics=
}}
Notes
{{reflist}}
References
- {{cite book |last= Jackson|first= A.J.|title= British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3|year= 1974|publisher= Putnam|location= London|isbn=0-370-10014-X }}
- {{cite book |last=Jackson |first= A. J. |title=British Civil Aircraft 1919–1972: Volume III |year=1988 |location=London |publisher=Putnam |isbn=0-85177-818-6}}
- Smith, R. 2002. British Built Aircraft Vol.1 Greater London. Tempus. {{ISBN|0-7524-2770-9}}
- {{cite book| editor-last = Taylor| editor-first = John W. R.| title = Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 1988–1989 | year = 1988| publisher = Jane's Information Group| isbn =0-7106-0867-5}}
External links
{{commons category|Luton Minor}}
- [http://www.lightaircraftassociation.co.uk/pdf/DataSheets/LutonMinor.pdf LAA specification sheet for Luton Minor]
Category:1930s British civil utility aircraft