Garrison Melmoth 2

Development

The Melmoth 2 was started in August 1981 as a composite follow-on to the complex Melmoth homebuilt. Initial fuselage lay-up was performed by Garrison along with engineer Burt Rutan and future private astronaut Mike Melvill, who also performed a fair number of the test flights. The aircraft is a single engine four-seat retractable tricycle gear low-wing with a T-tail arrangement. The rear seats face aft. The engine is cooled using updraft air which enters through a single inlet below the spinner and emerges from the top of the cowling near the spinner. A single airbrake panel opens under the fuselage. The tapered wings are equipped with large Fowler flaps. The original design has been modified with 45-degree sweep winglets and gear doors.

Specifications (Melmoth 2)

Data from Flying Magazine

General characteristics

Crew: 1

Capacity: 3 passengers

Length: 24 ft (7.3 m)

Wingspan: 35.7 ft (10.9 m)

Wing area: 106 sq ft (9.8 m²)

Aspect ratio: 12.6

Airfoil: Roncz laminar flow

Empty weight: 1,600 lb (726 kg)

Gross weight: 2,850 lb (1,293 kg)

Fuel capacity: 142 U.S. gallons (540 L; 118 imp gal)

Powerplant: 1 × Continental TSIO-360 , 200 hp (150 kW)

Propellers: 2-bladed Hartzell constant speed

Performance

Maximum speed: 217 kn; 402 km/h (250 mph)

Cruise speed: 200 kn (230 mph; 370 km/h)

Stall speed: 53 kn (61 mph; 98 km/h)

Never exceed speed: 190 kn (219 mph; 352 km/h)

Rate of climb: 2,000 ft/min (10 m/s)