The Wainfan FMX-4 Facetmobile is an American homebuilt aircraft designed by Barnaby Wainfan, a Northrop Grumman aerodynamicist and homebuilt aircraft engineer.
FMX-4 Facetmobile
The FMX-4 Facetmobile in flight
Role
Homebuilt Aircraft
National origin
United States
Designer
Barnaby Wainfan
First flight
April 22, 1993
Number built
1
While only one Facetmobile prototype was produced, it has become well known due to its unique nature.[1] The aircraft is unusual in that it is a lifting body – the whole aircraft acts as a low aspect ratiowing: a flat, angular lifting shape, unlike traditional aircraft which use distinct lift-generating wings attached to a non-lifting fuselage.[2] Also notably the aircraft's shape is formed of a series of 11 flat surfaces, somewhat similar to the body of the F-117 Nighthawk jet strike aircraft in using flat plates, but without separate wing structures. Although aerodynamic efficiency is reduced due to the simplistic shaping, that shaping reduces structural weight, improving payload mass fraction.[3]
The FMX-4 Facetmobile shape forms 11 flat planes, plus two wingtip rudders. Three flat shapes form the bottom of the aircraft (slightly inclined front, flat middle, and sharply raised back), and eight form the top (one large downwards-sloping rear section, one thin nose section, and three inclined side panels per side). The wing section is an 18% thickness ratio, much thicker than the typical 12-15% thickness of normal light aircraft wings. At least one commercial model airplane kit of the Facetmobile is in production.[4]
The prototype FMX-4 Facetmobile crashed on October 13, 1995, after an in-flight engine failure. The aircraft landed at low speed into a barbed wire fence, which caused extensive skin, engine, and some structural damage, though there was no injury to the pilot, Barnaby Wainfan.[5] As of 2006, the aircraft has been partially repaired but not flown again.
Structureedit
The Facetmobile structure is composed of 6061 aluminum tubing fastened with Cherrymax rivets. The fuselage uses conventional fabric covering. The aircraft uses elevons and rudders for control. The landing gear is a fixed tricycle type. The large windshield sections are augmented by two floor-mounted windows. The aircraft is boarded through a bottom-mounted hatch. The aircraft has a BRS parachute system installed.
Variantsedit
Wainfan has proposed two derivative aircraft based on the FMX-4 Facetmobile.
^Jack Cox (October 1994). "The Facetmobile". Sport Aviation.
^Barnaby and Lynn Wainfan's Facetmobile page, accessed October 24, 2006
^ abNASA LARC NAG-1-03054 "Feasibility Study of the Low Aspect Ratio All All-Lifting Configuration as a Low-Cost Personal Aircraft", Barnaby Wainfan and Hans Neiubert, February 2004, accessed October 24, 2006
^Incredible Facetmobile, accessed October 24, 2006
^Wise, Jeff (January 2005). "The Daring Visionaries of Crackpot Aviation -- Barnaby Wainfan: Aero Ace Piecing it Together". Popular Science.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wainfan Facetmobile.
Barnaby Wainfan's website, accessed October 17, 2022.
Quarter scale Facetmobile Youtube clip of a radio-controlled model.
January 01, 1970
wainfan, facetmobile, wainfan, facetmobile, american, homebuilt, aircraft, designed, barnaby, wainfan, northrop, grumman, aerodynamicist, homebuilt, aircraft, engineer, facetmobile, facetmobile, flight, role, homebuilt, aircraft, national, origin, united, stat. The Wainfan FMX 4 Facetmobile is an American homebuilt aircraft designed by Barnaby Wainfan a Northrop Grumman aerodynamicist and homebuilt aircraft engineer FMX 4 Facetmobile The FMX 4 Facetmobile in flight Role Homebuilt Aircraft National origin United States Designer Barnaby Wainfan First flight April 22 1993 Number built 1 While only one Facetmobile prototype was produced it has become well known due to its unique nature 1 The aircraft is unusual in that it is a lifting body the whole aircraft acts as a low aspect ratio wing a flat angular lifting shape unlike traditional aircraft which use distinct lift generating wings attached to a non lifting fuselage 2 Also notably the aircraft s shape is formed of a series of 11 flat surfaces somewhat similar to the body of the F 117 Nighthawk jet strike aircraft in using flat plates but without separate wing structures Although aerodynamic efficiency is reduced due to the simplistic shaping that shaping reduces structural weight improving payload mass fraction 3 Contents 1 Design and development 1 1 Shape 1 2 Structure 2 Variants 3 Specifications Facetmobile FMX 4 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDesign and development editShape edit The FMX 4 Facetmobile shape forms 11 flat planes plus two wingtip rudders Three flat shapes form the bottom of the aircraft slightly inclined front flat middle and sharply raised back and eight form the top one large downwards sloping rear section one thin nose section and three inclined side panels per side The wing section is an 18 thickness ratio much thicker than the typical 12 15 thickness of normal light aircraft wings At least one commercial model airplane kit of the Facetmobile is in production 4 The prototype FMX 4 Facetmobile crashed on October 13 1995 after an in flight engine failure The aircraft landed at low speed into a barbed wire fence which caused extensive skin engine and some structural damage though there was no injury to the pilot Barnaby Wainfan 5 As of 2006 the aircraft has been partially repaired but not flown again Structure edit The Facetmobile structure is composed of 6061 aluminum tubing fastened with Cherrymax rivets The fuselage uses conventional fabric covering The aircraft uses elevons and rudders for control The landing gear is a fixed tricycle type The large windshield sections are augmented by two floor mounted windows The aircraft is boarded through a bottom mounted hatch The aircraft has a BRS parachute system installed Variants editWainfan has proposed two derivative aircraft based on the FMX 4 Facetmobile FMX 5 Facetmobile a larger 2 seat design using the same aluminum tube and fabric construction An unnamed similar 2 seat design using advanced flat composite panel construction 3 Specifications Facetmobile FMX 4 editData from 1 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 19 ft 6 in 5 94 m Wingspan 15 ft 4 6 m Wing area 214 sq ft 19 9 m2 Empty weight 370 lb 168 kg Gross weight 740 lb 336 kg Fuel capacity 10 13 gallons Powerplant 1 Rotax 503 DC 50 hp 37 kW Propellers 3 bladed GSC ground adjustable Performance Maximum speed 96 kn 110 mph 178 km h Cruise speed 80 kn 92 mph 150 km h Rate of climb 750 ft min 3 8 m s Wing loading 3 45 lb sq ft 16 8 kg m2 See also editLifting body Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Dean Delt Air 250 Dyke Delta Rohr 2 175 Verhees D Plane 1References edit Jack Cox October 1994 The Facetmobile Sport Aviation Barnaby and Lynn Wainfan s Facetmobile page accessed October 24 2006 a b NASA LARC NAG 1 03054 Feasibility Study of the Low Aspect Ratio All All Lifting Configuration as a Low Cost Personal Aircraft Barnaby Wainfan and Hans Neiubert February 2004 accessed October 24 2006 Incredible Facetmobile accessed October 24 2006 Wise Jeff January 2005 The Daring Visionaries of Crackpot Aviation Barnaby Wainfan Aero Ace Piecing it Together Popular Science External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wainfan Facetmobile Barnaby Wainfan s website accessed October 17 2022 Quarter scale Facetmobile Youtube clip of a radio controlled model Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wainfan Facetmobile amp oldid 1217790685, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
