Merkel Mark II
{{Short description|American homebuilt aircraft}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Mark II | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Homebuilt aircraft | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Merkel Airplane Company | designer=Edwin Merkel | first flight= | introduced= | retired= | status=Plans no longer available | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Merkel Mark II is an American homebuilt aerobatic biplane that was designed by Edwin Merkel and produced by the Merkel Airplane Company of Wichita, Kansas in the form of plans for amateur construction.Plane and Pilot: 1978 Aircraft Directory, page 147. Werner & Werner Corp, Santa Monica CA, 1977. {{ISBN|0-918312-00-0}}
Designer Merkel died on 12 March 2012 and plans are no longer available.{{cite web|url = http://bakerfhvc.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=1421916&fh_id=13725|title = Obituary For Edwin Merkel |accessdate = 12 October 2013|last = Baker Funeral Home|date = March 2012}}
Design and development
The Mark II features a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit with an optional bubble canopy, fixed conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration. The Mark II was intended as a two-seat trainer version as a companion to a planned single-seat competition version.
The aircraft is made from welded steel tubing with the airframe covered in sheet aluminum. Its {{convert|25.5|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wings employ a NACA 23012 airfoil and each has a single torsional spar. The standard engine recommended was a {{convert|220|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Franklin Engine Company powerplant.{{Cite web|url = http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html|title = The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage|accessdate = 25 October 2013|last = Lednicer|first = David|authorlink = |year = 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130806041032/http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html|archive-date = 6 August 2013|url-status = dead}}
The aircraft has an empty weight of {{convert|1200|lb|kg|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|1540|lb|kg|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|340|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|18|u.s.gal}} the payload is {{convert|232|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.
Specifications (Mark II)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=one passenger
|length m=
|length ft=22
|length in=9
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=25
|span in=6
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=NACA 23012
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=1200
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=1540
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|18|u.s.gal}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Franklin 6A-350-C1{{Citation needed|date=October 2013}}
|eng1 type=air-cooled, horizontally-opposed piston aircraft engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=220
|prop blade number=
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|prop dia m=
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|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=206
|max speed kts=
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|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=160
|cruise speed kts=
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|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=55
|stall speed kts=
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|never exceed speed kmh=
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|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=250
|range nmi=
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|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|g limits=operational: +6/-3, ultimate: +9/-4.5
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|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=2500
|climb rate note=
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}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/Visschedijk/Additions/11552L-1.jpg Photo of a Merkel Mark II]
- [https://www.airliners.net/photo/Untitled/Merkle-Mark-II/212482 Color photo of a Merkel Mark II]
{{aerobatics}}
Category:1960s United States sport aircraft