Mooney Mite flying scale model

Mooney Mite enthusiast David Dugannne of Albuquerque, NM sent us this letter and photograph:

Thanks for the positive response to my Mooney Mite model. I'm not selling plans or built-up models, but just wanted to show Mooney fans my Mite model project.

[Photo taken by Martha Ann Duganne].

The wingspan is 16 inches, construction is balsa wood and Japanese tissue. The model is very lightweight, designed for indoor (gymnasium) flying, using rubber power. The upper and lower cowling outlines and the curved tailcone tip are laminated balsa strips, for light weight and strength.

The covering material was preshrunk and detailed before being applied to the structure with liquid UHU glue pen adhesive. A black Sharpie permanent marker pen was used for panel/marking details. A solid balsa motorstick on the right side provides support for the rubber motor loop, as well as a keel support for the airframe.

Originally, I planned to scale a model building plan for the Crosley powered prototype, published in the 1980's, but some dimensions/geometry were incorrect and not very true to scale. The extensive photo documentation and 3-view from the Mite Site were very useful in developing my own construction drawings.

Since I'm partial to yellow airplanes, Ted Teach's N4122 was used as a reference subject.

Back in 1957 my dad Paul Duganne, a school principal and part-time flight instructor got to fly Mite N4156 out of Gallup, NM. His 1:00 hour local flight included a flyby of the small school community of Naschitti, NM on the Navajo Indian Reservation, where our family lived. We were sorry to see N4156 was destroyed in the 1980's per your Mite directory.

As a licensed private pilot, the extent of my Mooney experience was limited to flying a later-model......a beautiful blue and white 1983 model 201.

Thanks again for a great website, and the opportunity to share some Mooney info with other enthusiasts.

Regards,

Dave 

May 11, 2001