Jurca MJ-54 Silas

The aircraft came from an idea by Arthur-Joseph Torossian in 1992, who wanted a touring aircraft which could carry a very small vehicle, such as the Aixam Microcar, for use at remote airfields, and which could also be used as sleeping accommodation with the car removed.[1] The car could also act as an aircraft tug at airports. He envisioned it as a combination of a Max Holste Broussard and a Transall C.160. He saw many other uses for the aircraft, including as an air ambulance, carrier for four parachutists, disabled persons carrier, or freighter. Torossian envisaged a market for 1000 aircraft, and during the development of the prototype was looking for a company to mass-produce it.[2] In 2000 he was awarded the French Union of Inventors' prize for the best invention.

The well-known designer of wooden homebuilt aircraft, Marcel Jurca was enlisted to design the prototype. Construction was started at Cerny Aerodrome, La Ferté-Alais by Torossian and a group of friends, who together formed a group known as the Association Tegas, a reversal of the surname of Dassault test pilot Jean-Marie Saget.[2] This led to the aircraft sometimes mistakenly being called "The Tegas". The aircraft, registered F-WGBT and nicknamed "Cargolito", first flew on 30 April 1997,[3] but this may have just consisted of a few hops along the runway. Development was slow, and a public presentation was not held until 16 January 2002 at La Ferté-Alais.[1] Apparently, obtaining a permit to fly was difficult because of the fuel in the car's tank. Joseph Torossian had great problems getting finance for production. A planned promotional tour of French flying clubs seems not to have taken place, and little happened since. The prototype remains stored at the airfield.

The MJ-54 is a high-wing monoplane of wooden construction, with two seats accessed by two gull-wing doors. The cockpit was designed with touring comfort in mind. The fuselage is a box structure with a rear loading ramp up which a small car can be driven, or other freight loaded. The centre of gravity changes little, whether loaded or unloaded. It has a cantilever wing. The horizontal tailplane is attached to the underside of a rear boom, with twin fins and rudders on the tips. It has a fixed tricycle undercarriage.

Data from Tegas.net (on Wayback Machine)[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: one pilot
• Capacity: one passenger
• Length: 9 m (29 ft 6 in)
• Wingspan: 12 m (39 ft 4 in)
• Empty weight: 1,410 kg (3,109 lb)
• Gross weight: 1,750 kg (3,858 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming , 190 kW (250 hp)
• Propellers: 2-bladed

Performance

• Cruise speed: 190 km/h (120 mph, 100 kn)
• Range: 750 km (470 mi, 400 nmi)