AmeriPlanes Mitchell Wing A-10
title: "AmeriPlanes Mitchell Wing A-10" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1980s-united-states-ultralight-aircraft", "don-mitchell-aircraft"] topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AmeriPlanes_Mitchell_Wing_A-10" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Mitchell Wing A-10 |
| image | Mitchell Wing A-10.JPG |
| caption | A-10 |
| aircraft_type | Ultralight aircraft |
| national_origin | United States |
| manufacturer | AmeriPlanes |
| designer | Don Mitchell |
| status | Production completed |
| number_built | A-10: 364 (1999) |
| T-10: 150 (1999) | |
| introduction | 1982 |
| first_flight | 1982 |
| developed_from | Mitchell Wing B-10 |
| variants | Mitchell U-2 Superwing |
| :: |
| name = Mitchell Wing A-10 | logo = | logo_size = | image = Mitchell Wing A-10.JPG | alt = | caption = A-10 | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Ultralight aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = AmeriPlanes | design_group = | designer = Don Mitchell | builder = | issuer = | status = Production completed | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = A-10: 364 (1999) T-10: 150 (1999) | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = 1982 | retired = | first_flight = 1982 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = Mitchell Wing B-10 | variants = Mitchell U-2 Superwing | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = The Mitchell Wing A-10 and T-10 are a family of American cantilever, tricycle landing gear, high-wing, pusher configuration, one and two seat ultralight aircraft designed for amateur construction or supplied as completed aircraft. The aircraft were designed by Don Mitchell and were produced by a number of companies, the last being AmeriPlanes of Truro, Iowa.
Development
The A-10 is a 1982 development of the Mitchell Wing B-10 ultralight, itself developed from the Mitchell Wing hang glider of 1977. Their designer Don Mitchell had worked on the Northrop YB-49 bomber project. In place of the B-10's composite wing, the A-10 features a metal wing, attached in cantilever fashion to an open cockpit that can be equipped with a streamlined pod. The low-drag design results in a 16:1 glide ratio for the A-10. The aircraft can be used as a motor glider or as a cross country touring aircraft.
The wing is constructed from sheet aluminium, with a main spar in the form of a D-cell. The ribs are made from aluminium sheet and the wing is covered in the same material. The fuselage is built from aluminium tubing, riveted together. A cockpit streamlined pod was optional. The design has folding wings and was intended for trailering from the onset.
The standard engine for the A-10 is the 28 hp Rotax 277, but the 40 hp Rotax 447 and the 22 hp Zenoah G-25 have also been installed. Construction time of the kit was rated as 80–120 hours.
The A-10 was produced by a number of companies, including Mitchell Aircraft Corporation and Mitchell Wing, Inc. of Porterville, California, MitchellWing Aircraft Company of Kansas, Tulsa Mitchell Wing, Inc. of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Higher Planes of Dover, Kansas and lastly AmeriPlanes of Truro, Iowa. AmeriPlanes acquired the design on 15 April 1998 when Larry Smith took possession of the MitchellWing Aircraft Company. Ameriplanes was a one-person company and provided both kits and completed aircraft, but the company went out of business in the mid-2000s and the A-10 is no longer in production.
The A-10 was developed into a two-seat trainer, with side-by-side seating, designated the T-10. The T-10 incorporated three feet more wingspan and has a reduced glide ratio of 14:1.
Variants
;A-10 :Single seat design powered by a 28 hp Rotax 277, 40 hp Rotax 447 or 22 hp Zenoah G-25. ;A-10B Plain Jane :Basic, stripped down single seat design powered by a 22 hp Zenoah G-25. From the factory the model did not include the cockpit streamlining pod or other extras and was intended to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles regulations, with an empty weight of 250 lb ;A-10D :Deluxe model improved single seat design powered by a 22 hp Zenoah G-25. ;T-10 :Two seat side-by-side design powered by a 40 hp Rotax 447 or 50 hp Rotax 503. ;T-10D :Deluxe model two seat side-by-side design powered by a 45 hp Zenoah G-50.
Aircraft on display
- EAA AirVenture Museum – A-10
Specifications (A-10)
|ref=KitPlanes |prime units?=imp General characteristics
|genhide= |crew=one |capacity= |length m= |length ft=9 |length in=4 |length note= |span m= |span ft=34 |span in=4 |span note= |height m= |height ft=7 |height in=4 |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=134 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=280 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=553 |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity=2.5 US gallons (9.5 litres) |more general= Powerplant
|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Rotax 277 |eng1 type=single cylinder, two stroke aircraft engine |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=28 |eng1 kn= |eng1 lbf= |eng1 note= |power original= |prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note=
Performance
|perfhide= |max speed kmh= |max speed mph=70 |max speed kts= |max speed note= |max speed mach= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=55 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=28 |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph=75 |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed mph= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi=200 |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft=12000 |ceiling note= |g limits=+6/-5.5 |roll rate= |glide ratio=16:1 |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=800 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin=240 |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft=4.13 |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics=
References
References
- Downey, Julia: ''1999 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 36. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, pages B-38 & B-92. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN. 0-9680628-1-4
- Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter – Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', page 308. BAI Communications. {{ISBN. 0-9636409-4-1
- AmeriPlanes. (September 2007). "AmeriPlanes Home".
- Smith, Larry D.. (1999). "MitchellWing News".
- Pilot Friend. (n.d.). "Ameriplanes Mitchell Wing A-10".
- Smith, Larry. (2000). "About MitchellWing, {{sic".
- AmeriPlanes. (September 2007). "Specifications".
- [[EAA AirVenture Museum]]. (2012). "Mitchell Wing Silver Eagle A-10".
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