MIT Monarch A
Massachusetts Institute of Technology · United States · first flew 1983 · light aircraft
The Monarch A was a human-powered aircraft designed and built by graduates and undergraduates of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × electric, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.04 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Cruciform |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Very long slender wing, 18.7 m across
- Cruciform tail on a long boom
- Single propeller driven by human power and an electric motor
An extremely light wire-braced high-wing monoplane with an aspect ratio of 21.6, all-flying tail surfaces and a single tractor propeller about 3 m in diameter.
Specifications
- The MIT Monarch A has a length of 8.04 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 18.75 m (62 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 39 km/h (24 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Its designers included Juan Cruz, Mark Drela and John Langford. It was developed from the MIT Chrysalis and first flew on 14 August 1983.
Variants
It was developed into the Monarch B. Only one Monarch A was built.
Where you'll see it
It was retired on 23 September 1983. Its maximum speed was about 24 mph (39 km/h) and its empty weight only 67.5 lb.
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