Miller M-5 Belly Flopper
| M-5 Belly Flopper | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Homebuilt aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Ervin Miller |
| Number built | 1 |
| History | |
| First flight | 1946 |
| Fate | Crashed |
The Miller M-5 Belly Flopper was a 1940s American homebuilt aircraft. Its most notable feature was that the pilot flew in the prone position.
Design and development
It was designed and built by Ervin A. Miller of Milwaukee, Wisconsin during the 1940s.[1] The aircraft was a single-seat, low-wing cantilever monoplane. The pilot lay prone within a fully enclosed fuselage, the front of which was fitted with a transparent dome. The aircraft was equipped with a pair of Continental A40 engines, which powered two two-bladed propellers.[2] There was a fixed conventional undercarriage, and a cruciform tail. The aircraft was given the FAA registration of N29113.[3]
Operational history
The M-5 first flew in 1946. It was reported that the airplane had accrued 300 hours of flight time. Miller sold the aircraft, and the new owner destroyed it in a crash.[4]
Specifications
Data from A Corner of Heaven[5]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Wingspan: 28 ft 4 in (8.63 m)
- Powerplant: 2 × Continental A40 four cylinder, air-cooled, 40 hp (30 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 150 mph (241 km/h, 130 kn)
- Cruise speed: 127 mph (205 km/h, 111 kn)
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
- ^ Eckland, E.O. "American airplanes: Miller". www.aerofiles.com. Aerofiles. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
- ^ "Mystery Plane". Vintage Airplane. Vol. 9, no. 4. Hales Corners, WI: EAA. April 1981. p. 19.
- ^ "Miller Belly Flopper". All-Aero.com. February 19, 2025. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
- ^ "Mystery Plane". Vintage Airplane. Vol. 9, no. 6. Hales Corners, WI: EAA. June 1981. p. 25.
- ^ "Miller M-5 Belly Flopper". A Corner of Heaven (in Russian). 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2026.