Meyers 200
Encyclopedia
The Meyers
200 was a single-engined light aircraft produced in the US in the 1950s and 1960s.
and was a development of his Meyers 145 design. The holder of a number of speed records in its class, the Meyers 200 is widely admired for its clean lines, and is also known for its exceptionally sturdy airframe. This strength is derived from a tubular 4130 chrome-moly steel
truss structure with aluminum skin that protects occupants.
, the Aero Commander
division of North American Rockwell purchased the rights to the Meyers 145 and 200, as part of a strategy to capture a share of the light aircraft market in the United States. During this time it was in the James Bond film You Only Live Twice (film)
Known briefly as the Aero Commander 200, it soon emerged that the firm could not produce the design economically. Meyer's firm had been virtually hand-building each aircraft and no jigs
or tooling for the kind of mass production
envisaged by Aero Commander even existed at the time the rights were bought. Having spent $US 4 million to produce just $US 3 million worth of product, Aero Commander ceased production in 1968
and sold the rights to the Interceptor Corporation, which developed a turboprop
-powered version as the Interceptor 400
. Ownership of the rights eventually passed to Interceptor stockholder Peter Luce and his firm Prop-Jets Inc.
(AD) issued against the airframe. The 4130 chrome-moly steel
tubular roll cage
and understructure act like a race car protective cage during a crash. Several Meyers aircraft have been forced down
in the trees and off airport runways with documented instances of the occupants walking away with only minor injuries or a broken bone.
Meyers 145 -
Interceptor 400
Comparable aircraft:
Beechcraft Bonanza
, Bellanca Viking
Meyers Aircraft Company
The Meyers Aircraft Company was a US aircraft manufacturer established by Al Meyers in Tecumseh, Michigan in 1936. Originally, the company produced a biplane trainer, the Meyers OTW, but after World War II developed a range of light utility aircraft, culminating in the Meyers 200...
200 was a single-engined light aircraft produced in the US in the 1950s and 1960s.
Design
It was the brainchild of Al MeyersAl Meyers
Allen H. Meyers was an American pioneer aviator.Allen H. Meyers was a 20th-century aircraft designer. He was born in Allenhurst, New Jersey on September 4, 1908. After graduating from college as a mechanical engineer he worked for Chance Vought, Glenn Martin and Stinson Aircraft Company...
and was a development of his Meyers 145 design. The holder of a number of speed records in its class, the Meyers 200 is widely admired for its clean lines, and is also known for its exceptionally sturdy airframe. This strength is derived from a tubular 4130 chrome-moly steel
41xx steel
41xx steel is a family of SAE steel grades, as specified by the Society of Automotive Engineers . Alloying elements include chromium and molybdenum, and as a result these materials are often referred to as chromoly steel or CRMO...
truss structure with aluminum skin that protects occupants.
Acquisition by Aero Commander
In 19661966 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1966:-January:* The United States Armys helicopter assault-oriented 1st Cavalry Division begins Operation Matador to destroy North Vietnamese Army forces in Pleiku and Kon Tum Province, South Vietnam....
, the Aero Commander
Aero Commander (aircraft manufacturer)
Aero Commander was an aircraft manufacturer formed in 1944. In subsequent years it became a subsidiary of Rockwell International and Gulfstream Aerospace. The company ceased aircraft production in 1986.-History:...
division of North American Rockwell purchased the rights to the Meyers 145 and 200, as part of a strategy to capture a share of the light aircraft market in the United States. During this time it was in the James Bond film You Only Live Twice (film)
You Only Live Twice (film)
You Only Live Twice is the fifth spy film in the James Bond series, and the fifth to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film's screenplay was written by Roald Dahl, and loosely based on Ian Fleming's 1964 novel of the same name...
Known briefly as the Aero Commander 200, it soon emerged that the firm could not produce the design economically. Meyer's firm had been virtually hand-building each aircraft and no jigs
Jig (tool)
In metalworking and woodworking, a jig is a type of tool used to control the location and/or motion of another tool. A jig's primary purpose is to provide repeatability, accuracy, and interchangeability in the manufacturing of products. A jig is often confused with a fixture; a fixture holds the...
or tooling for the kind of mass production
Mass production
Mass production is the production of large amounts of standardized products, including and especially on assembly lines...
envisaged by Aero Commander even existed at the time the rights were bought. Having spent $US 4 million to produce just $US 3 million worth of product, Aero Commander ceased production in 1968
1968 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1968:- Events :* In the 1968 White Paper on Defence, the British Labour government announces that the Royal Navys aircraft carrier force will be phased out as soon as the United Kingdom has completed its withdrawal from Malaysia, Singapore, and the...
and sold the rights to the Interceptor Corporation, which developed a turboprop
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
-powered version as the Interceptor 400
Interceptor 400
The Interceptor 400 was a turboprop-powered single-engined light aircraft developed from the Aero Commander 200. It failed to attract buyers, and was perhaps too far ahead of its time...
. Ownership of the rights eventually passed to Interceptor stockholder Peter Luce and his firm Prop-Jets Inc.
Operational service
The Meyers 200D has never had an in-flight structural failure and has never had an FAA mandated Airworthiness DirectiveAirworthiness Directive
An Airworthiness Directive is a notification to owners and operators of certified aircraft that a known safety deficiency with a particular model of aircraft, engine, avionics or other system exists and must be corrected....
(AD) issued against the airframe. The 4130 chrome-moly steel
41xx steel
41xx steel is a family of SAE steel grades, as specified by the Society of Automotive Engineers . Alloying elements include chromium and molybdenum, and as a result these materials are often referred to as chromoly steel or CRMO...
tubular roll cage
Roll cage
A roll cage is a specially constructed frame built in the cab of a vehicle to protect its occupants from being injured in an accident, particularly in the event of a roll-over. Roll cages are used in nearly all purpose-built racecars, and in most cars modified for racing...
and understructure act like a race car protective cage during a crash. Several Meyers aircraft have been forced down
Emergency landing
An emergency landing is a landing made by an aircraft in response to a crisis which either interferes with the operation of the aircraft or involves sudden medical emergencies necessitating diversion to the nearest airport.-Types of emergency landings:...
in the trees and off airport runways with documented instances of the occupants walking away with only minor injuries or a broken bone.
Meyers
- 200 - single prototype powered by Continental O-470Continental O-470The Continental O-470 engine is a family of carbureted six-cylinder, horizontally opposed, air-cooled aircraft engines that was developed especially for use in light aircraft by Continental Motors. The family includes the E165, E185 and the E225 engines...
- 200A - production version powered by Continental IO-470 (11 built)
- 200B - (17 built)
- 200C - raised roof-line and larger windshield (9 built)
- 200D - engine replaced with Continental IO-520A and flush riveted wings (8 built)
Aero Commander
- 200 - Aero Commander version of the 200D (77 built)
- 200 - Aero Commander version of the 200E (1 prototype built)
- T200E - experimental twin-engine conversion - never built
General characteristics
- Crew: one pilot
- Capacity: 3 passengers
- Length: 24 ft 4 in (7.42 m)
- Wingspan: 30 ft 6 in (9.30 m)
- Height: 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m)
- Wing area: 162 ft² (15.0 m²)
- Empty: 1,940 lb (882 kg)
- Loaded: 3,000 lb (1,364 kg)
- Maximum takeoff: 3,000 lb (1,364 kg)
- Powerplant: 1x Continental IO-520A, 285 hp (209 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 239 mph (385 km/h)
- Range: 1,200 miles (1,931 km)
- Service ceiling: 18,500 ft (5,640 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,350 ft/min (412 m/min)
- Wing loading: 18.5 lb/ft² ( kg/m²)
- Power/Mass: 10.5 hp/lb ( kW/kg)
See also
Related development:Meyers 145 -
Interceptor 400
Interceptor 400
The Interceptor 400 was a turboprop-powered single-engined light aircraft developed from the Aero Commander 200. It failed to attract buyers, and was perhaps too far ahead of its time...
Comparable aircraft:
Beechcraft Bonanza
Beechcraft Bonanza
The Beechcraft Bonanza is an American general aviation aircraft introduced in 1947 by The Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas. , it is still being produced by Hawker Beechcraft, and has been in continuous production longer than any other airplane in history...
, Bellanca Viking
Bellanca 17-30
-External links:* * * * * *...