MacDonald S-20
Robert A. MacDonald · United States · first flew 1972 · light aircraft
The MacDonald S-20 is a single-seat sport aircraft designed in the United States in the early 1970s and marketed for home building.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.64 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Conventional low-wing cantilever monoplane with an open cockpit
- Fixed tailwheel undercarriage
- All-metal skin with extensive pop rivets, powered by a converted Volkswagen automotive engine
A small open-cockpit low-wing monoplane with a tailwheel undercarriage and a converted car engine.
Specifications
- The MacDonald S-20 has a length of 5.64 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.62 m (25 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 177 km/h (110 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Robert MacDonald designed it and the prototype, registered N106AB, first flew on 9 March 1972. About 100 sets of plans had been sold by 1976.
Variants
The S-20 designation applied to the prototype, while aircraft built from the plans were designated S-21. Changes in 2009 and 2010 added a canopy, engine cowling and electrical system, giving the S-22.
Where you'll see it
It was built by amateurs from plans. Construction is metal throughout, with a welded steel tube forward fuselage.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.