CMC Leopard

The CMC Leopard was a British light personal business jet developed in the 1980s. Two prototypes were built and flown, but the type was never put into production.

Leopard
CMC Leopard G-BRNM on display at the Midland Air Museum
Role	Business jet
Manufacturer	Chichester-Miles Consultants
Designer	Ian Chichester-Miles
First flight	12 December 1988
Status	Project cancelled, both aircraft withdrawn from use
Number built	2

Design and development

The Leopard was a twin-jet, mid-wing monoplane of composite construction with all-swept flying surfaces and jet fighter-like styling, apart from the podded engines, mounted on each side of the rear fuselage. The entire canopy hinged forward to allow access to the four reclining seats.^[1]

A mockup was completed in 1982, leading to a prototype (registration G-BKRL^[2]) built by the Designability company. The prototype first flew late in 1988. Development suffered a major setback when the engine manufacturer, Noel Penny Turbines, ceased business, leading to the grounding of the prototype. A second, refined prototype (registration G-BRNM^[3]) was then constructed to use Williams International turbofans. This aircraft also incorporated a pressurised cabin, revised undercarriage, and a generally strengthened airframe. This second prototype was unveiled at the 1996 Farnborough International Airshow and first flew on 9 April 1997.

The project never progressed beyond the two aircraft built, later redesignated Leopard Four to distinguish them from a six-seat variant proposed in 2001, the Leopard Six. The EJ22 engine could no longer be used due to exclusive deal between Williams and Eclipse,^[4] resulting in the Six being proposed to make use of the larger FJ33. Chief aircraft designer and CMC chairman Ian Chichester-Miles died in 2009, bringing the enterprise to an end.^[5]

Aircraft on display

CMC Leopard G-BRNM in 1997 at Cranfield

Until 2007, both prototype Leopards, G-BKRL and G-BRNM, were on display at the Bournemouth Aviation Museum. With the museum temporary closure and relocation in 2008, only the former was retained and moved to the new site, while G-BRNM was acquired by the Midland Air Museum at Coventry Airport.^[6][7]

Specifications (second prototype)

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Capacity: 3 passengers
• Length: 24 ft 9 in (7.54 m)
• Wingspan: 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m)
• Height: 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
• Wing area: 63 sq ft (5.85 m²)
• Powerplant: 2 × Williams FJX-1 , 700 lbf (3.1 kN) thrust each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 540 mph (869 km/h, 470 kn)
• Range: 1,726 mi (2,778 km, 1,500 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 55,000 ft (16,765 m)
• Rate of climb: 6,340 ft/min (32.7 m/s)