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.
| 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 |
Design and development
editIt 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
editThe 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
edit
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
editAircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
edit- ↑ 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.
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