CMC Leopard

Leopard
CMC Leopard G-BRNM on display at the Midland Air Museum
Role Business jet
Manufacturer Chichester-Miles Consultants
Designer Ian Chichester-Miles
First flight 12 December 1988
Status Project cancelled, both aircraft withdrawn from use
Number built 2


The CMC Leopard was a British light personal business jet developed in the 1980s. Two prototypes were built and flown, but the type was never put into production.

Design and development

The Leopard was a twin-jet, mid-wing monoplane of composite construction with all-swept flying surfaces and jet fighter-like styling, apart from the podded engines, mounted on each side of the rear fuselage. The entire canopy hinged forward to allow access to the four seats.

A mockup was completed in 1982, leading to a prototype (registration G-BKRL[1]) built by the Designability company. The prototype first flew late in 1988. Development suffered a major setback when the engine manufacturer, Noel Penny Turbines, ceased business, leading to the grounding of the prototype. A second, refined prototype (registration G-BRNM[2]) was then constructed to use Williams International turbofans. This aircraft also incorporated a pressurised cabin, revised undercarriage, and a generally strengthened airframe. This second prototype was unveiled at the 1996 Farnborough International Airshow and first flew on 9 April 1997.

The project never progressed beyond the two aircraft built, later redesignated Leopard Four to distinguish them from a six-seat variant proposed in 2001, the Leopard Six.[3] Chief aircraft designer and CMC chairman Ian Chichester-Miles died in 2009, bringing the enterprise to an end.[4]

Aircraft on display

CMC Leopard on display at the Midland Air Museum

Until 2007, both prototype Leopards, G-BKRL and G-BRNM, were on display at the Bournemouth Aviation Museum. With the museum temporary closure and relocation in 2008, only the former was retained and moved to the new site, while G-BRNM was acquired by the Midland Air Museum at Coventry Airport.[5][6]

Specifications (second prototype)

General characteristics

Performance


References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to CMC Leopard.
  1. "GINFO Database". Civil Aviation Authority.
  2. "GINFO Database". Civil Aviation Authority.
  3. Sarsfield, Kate (20 March 2001). "Chichester Miles spots new market for Leopard Six jet". Flight International (Flightglobal). Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  4. "Obituaries - Ian Chichester-Miles: aircraft designer". The Times (Times Newspapers). 15 October 2009. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  5. "Chichester-Miles Leopard G-BKRL". Bournemouth Aviation Museum. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  6. "Latest News". Midland Air Museum. 12 April 2008. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
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