N81JT, The French Jurca MJ.5 Sirocco Design.

Early amateur homebuilt aircraft were called just that-homebuilt. Frequently, they were designed by a person unskilled in aeronautical engineering not working in aviation and were plans-drawn with a thought of simple wood construction for framing and fabric covered with a low horsepower engine to keep costs at a minimum. Being one's own test pilot "thinned the herd", so to speak, as some builders did not survive the first flight of their creation. Yet, some simple early designs have survived to this day because of relative ease of construction, minimal cost or just plain fun of low speed economical flight  and the evident pride of building  and flying an aircraft of one's own making. In the early days before the Experimental Aircraft Association and before composite construction, many simple designs did fly well and are still being built. Charles Lindbergh's epic feat of first to solo a light aircraft, the Ryan NYP, across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927 from New York to Paris inspired many to want to learn to fly and or build their own airplane.

Bernard Pietenpol's first parasol-wing single seat aircraft design of 1928 is one such example. Pietenpol developed the design to use a converted Ford Model T engine and later a Ford Model A automobile engine  to power his first designs.  By 1934 he had developed his two-place tandem  parasol-wing  Air Camper design with plans suitable for others. He built the aircraft with lumber yard spruce and plywood, covered with cotton bed sheet fabric, painted with clear varnish. Steel flat parts and piping were used in the main landing gear and engine mount areas. Flying the aircraft from his base in Southern Minnesota near the Iowa border to Minneapolis, Minnesota, he showed his creation to the publisher of Modern Mechanics magazine who published the plans in the magazine. It was an instant sensation, with many amateurs commencing construction from those plans. Pietenpol worked to develop parts kits for aid in construction and also built complete aircraft. The Air Camper had a 29 foot wingspan of 135 square feet area and maximum takeoff weight of 1,080 pounds with Ford Model A converted engine. The maximum wing loading was just 8 pounds per square foot. This was a time without much regulation, as amateur aircraft construction had not been much contemplated by lawmakers. Bernard Pietenpol is considered the "Father of Homebuilt Aircraft". Much credit must be given to such pioneers of the homebuilt aircraft movement. Builders worked from plans of varying completeness and difficulty, and had to  improvise where detail was lacking. Put this together with the time, patience, skill, fortitude and yes, money and secure space and tools to complete the aircraft, and you have to  recognize and admire such builders. Building a light aircraft was also a test of dedication over a long period of time and a test of some marriages, some of which did not survive.

The advanced design wood construction homebuilt aircraft, N81JT featured on takeoff above from Santa Paula's runway 22 is doubly interesting as it is a French plans-only built design of Marcel Jurca, examples not often seen in America. According to the owner-builder, most examples of the MJ.5 Sirocco are in France, but other examples are found in several other countries of the world. There are no subassemblies available to speed the building or simplify difficult areas, no big network of other constructors to share tips and hints in construction, and be mindful the designer is remote in another country speaking a different native language. It makes you wonder whether there was an English language version of the aircraft plans and any conversion guide to the metric dimensions and specifications. All these differences highlight  the considerable accomplishment in the finished aircraft, which is considered complex rather than simple-built with alternative retractible main gear and a high horsepower engine. The results speak for themselves, in the aircraft's construction, appearance and performance. My photographs, which at this writing are the only ones of this stunning aircraft on this website, do not do the aircraft justice. According to the owner builder pilot, seven years were required for the construction. I say Bravo! to the outstanding personal accomplishment.

The Jurca MJ.5 Sirocco is Marcel Jurca's fifth aircraft design, and was derived from the similar but smaller low wing single seat MJ.2 Tempete, which first flew in June, 1956. First flight of the MJ.5 Sirocco took place in August, 1962. Both designs were prepared for a number of different engines of varying horsepower, and the MJ.5 is actually certified in France to FAR Part 23 standards, being static tested to +6 g and -4 g. It is aerobatic rated for two persons aboard in the tandem seating. At least one MJ.5 was factory-built in France. N81JT is registered Experimental class in America. Marcel Jurca's main aircraft design thrust has been scaled single seat warbird replicas of wood or part metal construction, and the MJ.2 and MJ.5 are not his only variations from his replica warbird designs for amateur constructors. Jurca's Sirocco name for the aircraft refers to the hot, dusty dry strong wind from North Africa that assaults southern Europe in the spring. The Swiss, French, Italian and Austrian Alps have their similar hot dry Foehn wind, and in Southern California we have our Santana, or Santa Ana strong hot dry winds generated in the High Basin of Utah and Nevada during a high barometric pressure forcing these winds down through mountain passes to the shore, picking up heat and speed as they are compressed. We have experienced winds exceeding 100 knots near the coastal mountains during these  winds, leading to great fire dangers. The speed connection is evident as this Sirocco as built with 230 hosepower is a real performer. I don't know details of how the Lycoming IO-360 A&C engine, nominally of 200 horsepower, was modified for the additional 30 horsepower.

Construction of N81JT is of wood framing sheathed in plywood skin and fabric covered wings in taildragger configuration. Tandem seating for two is under a huge blown clear canopy with marvelous visibilty. The main landing gear is inward-retractible built as an alternate method on the plans. Gear down indicators are shown on the wings, and just visible in one of my photos. The impressive one-of-a-kind finish on N81JT certainly connotes speed, which well fits the aircraft as powered. The substantial tall rudder is balanced, and is a recognition feature of the aircraft with the long canopy. The aircraft is flown solo from the front seat, and has a full panel for instrument flight. I saw a GPS antenna under the huge canopy. Several rear instruments tell the passenger aircraft performance parameters. The wing airfoil at root is NACA 23012 and the airfoil at wing tip is also NACA 23012. This is a common airfoil shared by such disparate aircraft as the Ryan SC-W145, the Taylorcraft BC-12D, the Beech Staggerwings Model 17 from D17 through final G17 models, the French Piel Emeraude series, the Aero Commander 500 Shrike and the Rockwell Commanders 690 and 695s, to name just a few.

Please note the 200 horsepower MJ.5 specification and performance figures below; N81JT with 230 horsepower is an even hotter performer. I do not have full specifications nor performance figures of N81JT, some dimensions and weight would vary; but am providing them for the 200 Hp version only. The middle photo shows the right main gear and gear strut that is covered flush when retracted. Just below that is a photo of the tandem cockpit with forward IFR panel. The very bottom photo shows the aircraft side view of the beautifully finished and distinctive N81JT tied down in the SZP transient parking area.

Please click on the top photo for more photos and information on the aircraft Profile page.

Jurca MJ.5 Sirocco 200 Hp Lycoming IO-360 version                             

Specifications 

Length: 20 ft. 2 in.

Wing span: 23 ft. 0 in.

Wing area: 107.6 sq, ft.

Wing aspect ratio: 4.9

Height: standard rudder: 9 ft. 2.25 in.

           modified rudder: 8 ft. 6.25 in.

Weight empty: 1,246 lbs.

Max takeoff weight: 1,874 lbs. 

Performance 

Max level speed: 162 kt/186 mph

Cruise speed: 140kt/162 mph

Stall speed: 59 kt/68 mph                                                         

Max-rateof climb-sea level: 2,750 ft/min.                                         

Wing loading-max: 17.51 lbs/sq. ft.

Power loading: 9.43 lb/Hp

Service ceiling: 6,000 m/19,680 ft.

Endurance: 3 hr. 30 min.

Takeoff run: 920 ft.

Landing run: 1,640 ft.

g limit: 6+/-3g