MACDONALD S-20

Plane & Pilot

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

Verified

Edited By: Omar Filipović

Key Takeaways:

The S-20 is a single-seat, open-cockpit aircraft featuring all-metal construction with a steel-tube truss fuselage and lightweight alloy skin, utilizing pop rivets for simplicity.
Powered by a 53-hp Volkswagen engine, it offers a cruise speed of 90 mph and a range of 250 miles.
Key performance specifications include a top speed of 110 mph, a low stall speed of 38 mph, and short takeoff/landing runs of just 300 feet.

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STANDARD DATA: Gross wt. 720. Empty wt. 456. Fuel capacity 10. Wingspan 25′. Length 18’6″. Engine 53-hp Volkswagen.
PERFORMANCE: Top mph 110. Cruise mph 90. Stall mph 38. Climb rate 850. Takeoff run 300. Landing roll 300. Range 250.

The S-20 utilizes all-metal construction but keeps it simple by the extensive use of pop rivets. It features open-cockpit seating for one, low wings, and conventional landing gear. The fuselage is of steel-tube truss construction with a lightweight alloy skin. The constant-chord wings are also covered with the same lightweight alloy skin.