Malliga MAL 04 Speedbird

Design of the Speedbird commenced in 2000, with construction starting in 2003.^[1] The aircraft is based around a surplus drop tank, that Malliga had purchased for €25.00, and which originally was fitted to a McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II.^[1][2] It is a mid-wing monoplane of all-metal construction. The wings have no dihedral and are of narrow taper and fitted with outboard ailerons. The aircraft was equipped with a Cessna retractable tricycle undercarriage.^[1] A diesel engine, located in the middle of the fuselage, drove a five-bladed pusher propeller located to the rear of a V-tail empennage.^[2]

The aircraft was assigned the registration of OE-VMA. It first flew in 2013.^[1] A test flight in 2015 ended with when tail flutter caused the elevator to lock, forcing Malliga to make an emergency landing. Malliga suffered a bruised rib, but the aircraft was almost completely destroyed.^[3]

Data from Keimel^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 6.50 m (21 ft 4 in)
• Wingspan: 7.29 m (23 ft 11 in)
• Height: 5.80 m (19 ft 0 in)
• Wing area: 5.30 m² (57.0 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 550 kg (1,213 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 800 kg (1,764 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Zoche ZO 02A twin-radial Diesel, 220 kW (300 hp)
• Propellers: 5-bladed

Performance

• Maximum speed: 750 km/h (470 mph, 400 kn)
• Cruise speed: 550 km/h (340 mph, 300 kn)
• Minimum control speed: 160 km/h (99 mph, 86 kn)