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, simplified by extensive use of pop rivets.
Its design includes a steel-tube truss fuselage and constant-chord low wings, both covered with lightweight alloy skin.
Powered by a 53-hp Volkswagen engine, it achieves a top speed of 110 mph, cruises at 90 mph, and has a range of 250 miles with a short 300-foot takeoff and landing roll.

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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.