MBB Bo 209

Bo 209 Monsun
Role Civil utility aircraft
Manufacturer Bölkow; later MBB
First flight 22 December 1967 (MHK-101)
Number built 2 MHK-101 and 102 Bo 209

The MBB Bo 209 Monsun (originally the Bolkow MHK-101) is a two-seat light aircraft that was developed in West Germany in the late 1960s.

Design and development

The design started as a redesign of the Bo 208 under Bölkow technical director Dr Hermann Mylius but resulted in a vastly different aircraft with little commonality of parts with its predecessor. The fuselage was now wider and incorporated a retractable nose wheel. The wings were redesigned and relocated to a low-wing configuration (the Bo 208 was a high-wing aircraft) and made foldable for towing and storage. The aircraft was marketed with a choice of the fixed or retractable nose wheel, either a 150-hp or 160-hp Lycoming engine, and an optional variable-pitch propeller. A trainer version with dual controls was also manufactured.

The prototype MHK-101 was first flown on 22 December 1967. this was followed by a second aircraft with the cockpit canopy being modified. The company now part of MBB, then built 102 production examples as the Bo 209 Monsun.

With this broad array of equipment options Bölkow displayed the aircraft at the Air Show in Hanover 1970: 57 orders of the new type were drawn in advance. A commercial success of the project seemed secured, but the fusion of the Bölkow GmbH into the MBB company 1968 led to the economic decision to stop building civil aircraft. Although there were 102 Monsun manufactured between 1969 and 1971. A United States businessman invested in the model, secured funding, and started shipping factory equipment to Georgia. Before completion of the transition, the investor committed suicide after losses in stock market speculation.[1] MBB decided in February 1972 to stop production despite there still being 275 orders outstanding.

In the late 90's Dr. Mylius's son, Albert Mylius, completed a totally revised version of his father's design under a new company "Mylius Flugzeugwerk GmbH & Co KG" based in Bitburg. Two models were produced: a single seat developed as a low cost aerobatic airplane (MY-102) and a two-seat (MY-103) Mylius Aircraft which has some variations over the original Bo 209 design, like wider cockpit, better handling characteristics and improved overall performance (including aerobatic rating) with a more powerful 200HP engine.

Variants

  • MHK-101 prototype
  • Bo 209-150 - production version with Lycoming O-320-E1C engine
  • Bo 209-160 - production version with Lycoming O-320-D1A engine
  • Bo 209S - trainer version with dual controls, non-retracting nosewheel, and non-folding wings

Specifications (Bo 209-160)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1971-72

General characteristics

  • Crew: one pilot
  • Capacity: 1 passenger
  • Length: 6.60 m (21 ft 7¾ in)
  • Wingspan: 8.40 m (27 ft 6¾ in)
  • Height: 2.20 m (7 ft 2½ in)
  • Wing area: 10.2 m2 (110 ft2)
  • Empty weight: 484 kg (1,067 lb)
  • Gross weight: 820 kg (1,807 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-320-D1A, 119 kW (160 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 274 km/h (170 mph)
  • Cruising speed: 243[2] km/h (150 mph)
  • Range: 1,200 km (745 miles)
  • Endurance: 5 hours  14 min
  • Service ceiling: 5,520 m (18,100 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 6 m/s (1,180 ft/min)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Notes

  1. ↑ Dave Weiman (January 1979). "The Messerschmitt that was supposed to be made in the U.S.". Air Progress.
  2. ↑ econ cruise - 60% power

References

  • Taylor, John W.R. (ed.) (1971). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1971-72. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 0-354-00094-2.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 192.
  • Simpson, R. W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. p. 85.
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