OpenSky M-02

M-01, M-02
Role	recreational aircraft
National origin	Japan
Manufacturer	OpenSky
First flight	2006
Number built	2

The OpenSky M-02 is a Japanese jet-powered glider inspired by the Möwe aircraft flown by the protagonist in the Hayao Miyazaki anime Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.^[1] It is a tail-less design intended to be powered on take off and climb for a duration of 10 minutes, then flown unpowered as a glider. As of June 2006, two aircraft prototypes have been constructed, and one has successfully completed a series of 10 unpowered test flights where it flew 98 meters and achieved an altitude of 4 meters after being tow-launched by a tensed elastic cable.^[2][3] The project is led by artist Kazuhiko Hachiya and includes engineers from AC-Olympos, artists, and students. The Jet engine installed version, M-02J will not be tested openly.^[4]

Variants

• Möwe 1/2 (メーヴェ1/2) — sub-scale, radio-controlled development aircraft
• M-01 — unpowered development aircraft
• M-02 a total of 2 airframes of M-02 were built, 1 for preliminary gliding practice and 1 for installing Jet engine with no intention to mass-production.^[5]
  • M-02J (14 June 2007) Modified M-02 airframe has had a Jet engine installed.^[6] (14 April 2010) Vehicle M-02 has undergone high speed taxi tests at Fukusima Sky Park runway, in order to evaluate stability and acceleration. More details of the jet engine assembly are available, and the engine has a considerable separation from the walls of the engine pod, in order to permit better cooling and prevent the wood and composite airframe from encountering an excessive fire risk.^[7]

Specifications (M-02, as designed)

Data from OpenSky website^[8]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 1
• Length: 2083 mm (6.83 ft)
• Wingspan: 9636 mm (31.61 ft)
• Height: 1057 mm (3.47 ft)
• Wing area: 12.2 m² (131.3 sq ft)
• Airfoil: high forward camber, reflexed
• Empty weight: 50 kg (110 lb)
• Loaded weight: 105 kg (231 lb)
• Useful load: 50 kg (110 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 115 kg (253 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × (undisclosed engine) , 40 kg (88 lbf)
• Mean aerodynamic chord: 1287 mm (4.22 ft)
• Aspect ratio: 3.74 (quite low for a glider)
• L/D ratio: 18 (planned)
• Fuel capacity: 10 L (planned)

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 200 km/h (124 mph)
• Maximum speed: 120 km/h (75 mph)
• Cruise speed: (projected) 50–90 km/h (31–56 mph)
• Stall speed: 36 km/h (23 mph)
• Wing loading: 8.6 kg/sqm (0.0122 lb/sqin)
• Thrust/weight: 0.36

References

1. "Jet-powered Nausicaa Glider Project". Slashdot. 21 February 2004. Retrieved 2006-06-18.
2. "testflight060526_1.mov" (MOV). OpenSky. Petworks.co.jp. 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-18.
3. "Project OpenSky Takes Off". Slashdot. 17 June 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-18.
4. "Opensky Q&A". OpenSky. Petworks.co.jp. 2007. Retrieved 2010-02-23. Will the M-02J test flight be open to public? No, as a policy, the testing of M-02J will not be open to public. (■M-02Jのテストフライトは公開しますか？□いいえ。M−０２Jのテストは今後も原則非公開です。)
5. "Opensky Q&A". OpenSky. Petworks.co.jp. 2007. Retrieved 2010-02-23. A total of 2 airframes were built from this design, including a practice preliminary glider and a Jet engine installed self-powered aeroplane. [With no intention to mass-produce.] (この機体は、訓練用の初級滑空機とジェットエンジンを載せた自作航空機の２機を制作し、合計２機で運用の予定です。（量産化の予定はいまのところありません）)
6. "Opensky Q&A". OpenSky. Petworks.co.jp. 2007. Retrieved 2010-02-23. Can this airframe fly by itself immediately? As of 2007, a test model M-02J installed with a jet engine that can make it fly by itself is planned. The current airframe is being modified and tested. (■この機体は、今すぐ自力で飛べるの？□2007年には自力で飛べるようなジェットエンジンを搭載した試作機M-02Jを作る予定で,現在機体の改造やテストなど行っています。)
7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPIPxl_eS4k&feature=related
8. Hachiya, Kazuhiko. "OpenSky Q&A" (in Japanese). OpenSky Project. Retrieved 2006-10-09.

External links

• OpenSky webpage (Japanese)
• AC-Olympos website (Japanese)