The Miller-Bohannon JM-2 Special, named Pushy Galore, is a one-of-a-kind American homebuilt Formula One racing and record-setting aircraft. It was based upon Jim W Miller's Miller JM-2 design, highly modified by Bruce Bohannon.[1]
| JM-2 Special | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Homebuilt Formula One Air Racing aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Bruce Bohannon |
| Designer | Jim W Miller and Bruce Bohannon |
| First flight | Early 1989 |
| Retired | 1996 |
| Status | Sole example in the AirVenture Museum |
| Number built | One |
| Developed from | Miller JM-2 |
Design and development
editBohannon began construction of Pushy Galore in 1988 and first flew it in the early part of 1989, first entering it in a race in June 1989.[1]
The aircraft is of three-surface configuration, having a cantilever mid-wing, a single-seat enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed main tricycle landing gear with a retractable nose wheel, a t-tail and a nose-mounted canard. It is powered by a single rear-mounted engine in pusher configuration.[1]
The aircraft is made from welded steel tubing covered in molded carbon fiber. As required by the Formula One rules, its engine is a 100 hp (75 kW) Continental O-200A.[1]
Only one example was ever built.[1]
Operational history
editBohannon entered the aircraft in the Reno Air Races in 1994, qualifying in third place in the Formula One class, with a speed of 236.153 mph (380.051 km/h).[1]
In 1995 Bohannon flew the aircraft to second place in the Formula One Gold championship race at Reno, Nevada.[1]
Bohannon also used the aircraft to set world time-to-climb records in the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) C-1.A class. At AirVenture 1994 Bohannon set a new world time-to-climb record, climbing to 6,000 m (19,685 ft) in 12 minutes and 50 seconds. In January 1996, Bohannon climbed the aircraft to 9,000 m (29,528 ft) in 41 minutes and 35 seconds, setting class world time-to-climb, absolute altitude and altitude in horizontal flight records. In July 1996 at AirVenture in Oshkosh, Bohannon set a third FAI class time-to-climb record of 3,000 m (9,843 ft) in three minutes and eight seconds.[1]
After the climb records were set in 1996, Bohannon retired the aircraft and in 1998 donated it to the AirVenture Museum.[1] Bohannon later went on to set many more time-to-climb records in his successor to Pushy Galore, the Bohannon B-1.[2][3]
Aircraft on display
edit- AirVenture Museum – The sole example built was donated to the museum in 1998.[1]
Specifications (JM-2 Special Pushy Galore)
editData from AirVenture Museum[1][4]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Length: 17 ft 2 in (5.23 m)
- Wingspan: 18 ft 5 in (5.61 m)
- Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
- Gross weight: 941 lb (427 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Continental O-200A four cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 100 hp (75 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 250 mph (400 km/h, 220 kn)
References
edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Experimental Aircraft Association (2013). "Miller-Bohannan JM-2 Special "Pushy Galore" – N189BB". Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- ^ "Retirern' Tiger". Archived from the original on 26 February 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- ^ "Bruce Bohannon". Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- ^ Experimental Aircraft Association (2013). "Miller-Bohannan JM-2 Special "Pushy Galore" – Specifications". Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.