CMC Leopard

Leopard
CMC Leopard, G-BRNM, on display at the Midland Air Museum.
Role	Business jet
Manufacturer	Chichester-Miles Consultants
Designer	Ian Chichester-Miles
First flight	12 December 1988
Status	Project cancelled, both aircraft withdrawn from use
Number built	2

The CMC Leopard was a British light personal business jet aircraft under development in the United Kingdom in the 1980s. Two prototypes were built and flown but the type was not put into production.

Design and development

The Leopard was a mid-wing cantilever monoplane of composite construction with all-swept flying surfaces and jet fighter-like styling other than the podded engines on either side of the aft fuselage. The entire canopy hinged forward to allow access to the four seats. A mockup was completed in 1982, leading to a prototype (registration G-BKRL) built by the Designability company. The prototype first flew late in 1988. Development suffered a major setback when the engine manufacturer (Noel Penny Turbines) ceased business, leading to the grounding of the prototype. A second, refined prototype (registration G-BRNM) was then constructed to use Williams International turbofans. This aircraft also incorporated a pressurised cabin, revised undercarriage, and a generally strengthened airframe. This second prototype was unveiled at the 1996 Farnborough International Airshow and first flew on 9 April 1997.

As of 2002, development was confined to these two aircraft, by then retrospectively redesignated Leopard FOUR to distinguish them from a proposed six-seat variant, the Leopard SIX.

Aircraft on display

Until 2008 the two prototype Leopards (001 & 002) were on display at The Bournemouth Museum. But with the museum closing in early 2008, 002 moved to the Midland Air Museum at Coventry. 001 was on display at the Bournemouth Aviation Museum.

Specifications (second prototype)

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Capacity: 3 passengers
• Length: 24 ft 9 in (7.54 m)
• Wingspan: 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m)
• Height: 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
• Wing area: 63 ft² (5.85 m²)
• Powerplant: 2 × Williams FJX-1, 700 lbf (3.1 kN) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 540 mph (869 km/h)
• Range: 1,726 miles (2,778 km)
• Service ceiling: 55,000 ft (16,765 m)
• Rate of climb: 6,340 ft/min (32.7 m/s)

References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 922. 
• World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 891 Sheet 27. 

External links

• www.caa.co.uk - Image of G-BRNM
• www.caa.co.uk - Image of G-BKRL
• www.aviation-museum.co.uk G-BKRL entry at the Bournemouth Aviation Museum