The Rutan Model 202 Boomerang is an aircraft designed and built by Burt Rutan. The design was intended to be a multi-engine aircraft that in the event of failure of a single engine would not become dangerously difficult to control due to asymmetric thrust. The result is an asymmetrical aircraft with a very distinct appearance.

Design and development

The Boomerang was designed around the specifications of the Beechcraft Baron 58, one of the best known and most numerous twin-engine civilian aircraft. The use of the asymmetrical design allows the Boomerang to fly faster and farther than the Baron using smaller engines, and seating the same number of occupants. The Boomerang is powered by two engines, with the right engine producing 10 hp (8 kW) more power than the left one (the engines are in fact the same model, just rated differently). The wings are forward-swept.

Rutan Boomerang

A single prototype was completed in 1996, registered as N24BT. It was operated by Rutan for six years.

Rutan Boomerang

Rutan's Boomerang was restored to flying condition in 2011 and made an appearance at Oshkosh that year as part of the Tribute to Rutan.

Rutan Boomerang

Morrow Aircraft Corporation MB-300

In 1997, avionics entrepreneur Ray Morrow and his son, Neil, founded an air taxi company, Skytaxi. Initially they used Cessna 414s as interim aircraft, but in the long term they planned to use a modified version of Rutan's Boomerang design, which they designated the MB-300, and founded Morrow Aircraft Corporation in order to design and manufacture the MB-300. In 1999, Morrow applied to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States for a type certificate for the MB-300, however development was suspended in 2002 before the prototype was completed, and was not resumed.

Specifications (Boomerang)

See also

Blohm & Voss BV 141 - asymmetric German design of World War II

References

External links

Autopia - Burt Rutan’s Boomerang: Safety Through Asymmetry - July 29, 2011

SCALED and RAF Manned Research Projects - April 2011

1990s United States civil utility aircraft

Boomerang

Asymmetrical aircraft

Twin-fuselage aircraft

Forward-swept-wing aircraft

Aircraft first flown in 1996

Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft