Mitchell U-2 Superwing
Ultralight aircraft
title: "Mitchell U-2 Superwing" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1970s-united-states-ultralight-aircraft", "don-mitchell-aircraft", "tailless-aircraft", "aircraft-first-flown-in-1980", "single-engined-pusher-aircraft"] description: "Ultralight aircraft" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitchell_U-2_Superwing" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Ultralight aircraft ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Mitchell U-2 Superwing |
| image | 20180328 U-2 Superwing Udvar-Hazy.jpg |
| caption | A Mitchell U-2 superwing at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center |
| type | Ultralight aircraft |
| national_origin | United States |
| manufacturer | Mitchell Wing Company |
| designer | Don Mitchell |
| first_flight | 1980 |
| status | Plans available |
| more_users | |
| produced | |
| developed_from | Mitchell Wing B-10 |
| :: |
| name=Mitchell U-2 Superwing | image=20180328 U-2 Superwing Udvar-Hazy.jpg | caption=A Mitchell U-2 superwing at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center | type=Ultralight aircraft | national_origin=United States | manufacturer=Mitchell Wing Company | designer=Don Mitchell | first_flight=1980 | introduction= | retired= | status=Plans available | primary_user= | more_users= | produced= | number_built= | developed_from=Mitchell Wing B-10
The Mitchell U-2 Superwing is an American tailless ultralight aircraft that was designed by Don Mitchell for amateur construction.
Design and development
Although the aircraft was designed before the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules came into force, the U-2 Superwing complies with them anyway (including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb). The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 240 lb. It features a cantilever mid-wing, a single-seat enclosed cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration. The U-2 is a development of the high-wing B-10.
The aircraft fuselage is made from welded steel tube, while the wing is of wood and foam, with doped aircraft fabric covering. Its 34 ft span wing employs a modified Wortmann FX05-191 airfoil. The flight controls are unconventional; pitch and roll are controlled by elevons and yaw is controlled by the wing tip rudders. The main landing gear has suspension and the nose wheel is steerable and equipped with a brake.
The U-2 can accept a variety of engines ranging from 25 to mounted in pusher configuration.
Operational history
A pilot flying a U-2 set the World Record Altitude for Class C1 (single-engine land aircraft not exceeding 661 lb gross weight) in 1984 when he flew to 25940 ft.
Specifications (U-2)
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Mitchell_U-2_Superwing_b.jpg" caption="Mitchell U-2 Superwing"] ::
|ref=Cliche |prime units?=imp General characteristics
|genhide= |crew=one |capacity= |length m= |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m= |span ft=34 |span in= |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=136 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=240 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=550 |gross weight note= |fuel capacity=3 u.s.gal |more general= Powerplant
|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Zenoah G25 |eng1 type= |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=20 |prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note=
Performance
|perfhide= |max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=26 |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles=180 |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio=20:1 at 45 mph |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=400 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft=4.04 |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics=
References
References
- Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page E-259. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN. 0-9680628-1-4
- Lednicer, David. (2010). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage".
- Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 137. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
- "Mitchell U-2 Superwing". National Air and Space Museum.
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