O'Neill Magnum
| Magnum | |
|---|---|
| Role | Homebuilt aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | O’Neill Airplane Company |
| Designer | Terrence O'Neill |
| Developed from | O'Neill Aristocraft II |
The O'Neill Model J Magnum, also called the Magnum Jake and the Magnum Pickup, is a homebuilt aircraft design for bush flying operations similar to the de Havilland Beaver.[1]
Design and development
O’Neill intended to modify the Aristocraft II six-place homebuilt with a 350 hp (261 kW) radial engine. Eventually a clean sheet design was drawn up based on a bush pilot survey in Alaska.[2]
The Magnum is a single-engine, strut-braced, high-wing aircraft with an uncommon dual-main, four-wheel landing gear. The fiberglass gear legs support castoring wheels in the front, allowing for conversion to floats and providing support when the tail section is swung open for cargo loading. The fuselage is constructed from welded steel tubing, with aluminum skin. The engine cowl is sourced from a Cessna UC-78. The wings have full-span flaps, and spoilerons and are designed to fold like those of a Fairchild FB-2C. The fuel tank is mounted under the cockpit and can be released to reduce fire risk during emergency landings.[2]
Post flight-testing modifications resulted in changes to the landing gear layout, spoileron airflow control and engine cooling.
The Magnum was demonstrated at the EAA Airshow in 1984. In 1996, O’Neill folded the O'Neill aircraft company due to low interest and funding for further development. The prototype was sold in 1996 for an intended turboprop conversion.[3]
Variants
- Magnum V-8
- The prototype was converted in 1986 from a radial engine to an automobile engine powered by a Ford 351W with a McCulloch VS57 supercharger from a snowmobile, producing 380 hp (283 kW) at 4500rpm.[4]
Specifications (Magnum)
Data from Sport Aviation
General characteristics
- Length: 23 ft (7.0 m)
- Wingspan: 30 ft (9.1 m)
- Airfoil: NACA 4415
- Empty weight: 2,000 lb (907 kg)
- Gross weight: 3,800 lb (1,724 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Jacobs R-755S turbocharged radial engine, 350 hp (260 kW)
- Propellers: 3-bladed Hartzell constant speed
Performance
- Stall speed: 60 kn (69 mph; 111 km/h)
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era