MERKEL MARK II

Plane & Pilot

Friday, March 13, 2009 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: Omar Filipović

Key Takeaways:

This is a high-performance, two-seat aerobatic biplane, first flown in 1973 and designed by Edwin Merkel, with plans for trainer and competition versions.
The aircraft is built for extreme maneuvers, stressed to +6Gs and -3Gs limits, featuring a lightweight alloy skin over a welded-steel tube fuselage and single-spar torsional wings.
It boasts impressive performance, including a top speed of 206 mph, a 2,500 fpm climb rate, and notably short 300 ft takeoff and landing runs.

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STANDARD DATA: Gross wt. 1,540. Empty wt. 1,200. Fuel capacity 18. Wingspan 25’6″. Length 22’9″. Engine 220-hp Franklin.
PERFORMANCE: Top mph 206. Cruise mph 160. Stall mph 55. Climb rate 2,500. Takeoff run 300. Landing roll 300. Range 250.

This two-seat aerobatic biplane is stressed to a +6Gs and -3Gs limit, and +9Gs to -4.5Gs ultimate. It was first flown in 1973, and its designer, Edwin Merkel, planned to produce the biplane in a two-seater trainer version and a single-place competition model. The Mark II has a lightweight alloy skin on a welded-steel tube fuselage; the wings feature a single-spar torsional structure. Other extras include an anti-servo tab, ground adjustable trim tab, and optional cockpit canopy.