Smith Termite
Termite Aircraft · United States · first flew 1957 · light aircraft
The Smith Special, also known as Smitty's Termite or the Smith Termite, is a single-seat American homebuilt aircraft built primarily of wood.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Braced parasol-wing monoplane
- All-wood construction with steel struts and landing gear
- No brakes and no tailwheel
A small single-seat braced parasol monoplane with a wooden airframe, spruce structure and birch plywood covering. It has no brakes or tailwheel.
Specifications
- The Smith Termite has a length of 5 m (16 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7 m (23 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 150 km/h (93 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Wilbur L. Smith designed it using chalk on a basement floor, and Don Cookman later drew up the plans. It first flew on 10 February 1957, powered by a 36 hp Aeronca E113-C.
Variants
It was designed to use an Aeronca engine, but a Continental A-40 was installed after an engine failure resulted in a forced landing.
Where you'll see it
One is displayed at the Oregon Air and Space Museum in Eugene, Oregon, with its fabric covering removed to show the all-wood construction.
Related aircraft
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