# Luton Minor

The Luton L.A.4 Minor was a 1930s British single-seat high-wing ultra-light aircraft. The prototype was built by the Luton Aircraft Limited, and design plans were later adapted and copies sold for homebuilding.

## Design and development

The L.A.3 Minor ultralight was powered by a 35 hp Anzani inverted-vee air-cooled engine, and was of spruce, ply and fabric construction. It was designed by C.H. Latimer-Needham, and built by Luton Aircraft at Barton-in-the-Clay, Bedfordshire in 1936, using the fuselage and components of the earlier experimental L.A.2 tandem-wing aircraft. The prototype L.A.3 Minor, registered G-AEPD, first flew on 3 March 1937 at Heston Aerodrome. The aircraft was a successful flyer despite the low-powered engine, and it was then redesigned for home construction. Designated the L.A.4 Minor, it had a strutted undercarriage and parallel wing struts. The first L.A.4 Minor was built at the company's new factory (the Phoenix Works) at Gerrards Cross in Buckinghamshire. It was fitted with a 40 hp ABC Scorpion two-cylinder horizontally-opposed engine. All subsequent Luton Minors were home-built from plans sold by the company.
The Phoenix Works had burnt down during 1943, and Luton Aircraft had closed, so designer C.H. Latimer-Needham and A.W.J.G. Ord-Hume created a new company in March 1958 to take over the design rights for the Luton Minor. Latimer-Needham updated the design to take more modern lightweight four-cylinder engines and an increased all-up weight. The redesigned aircraft was designated L.A.4A Minor. The design, and subsequently the aircraft, has been built all over the world as a homebuilt aircraft with a wide variety of engines, with the plans for the aircraft being passed on to the Popular Flying Association (now the Light Aircraft Association) in the UK.

## Operational history

Reviewers Roy Beisswenger and Marino Boric described the design in a 2015 review, saying, "it has a great deal of period charm and gives a back-to-basics feel, although performance doesn't match more modern designs. Predictable handling and sturdy construction make it a joy to own. A white scarf is a compulsory accessory.".

## Variants
### L.A.3 Minor

    Prototype ultralight, one built.

### L.A.4 Minor

    Homebuilt version, one factory built and numerous homebuilt examples.

### L.A.4A Minor

    Updated homebuilt version to take more modern engines, all homebuilt.

### Knowles Duet

    The Knowles Duet was a side-by-side two seat version built by Alf Knowles in 1971, registered G-AYTT.

### Coates Swalesong S.A.I

    A Luton Minor built by James Coates, registered as G-AMAW.

### Gowland Jenny Wren

    A Luton Minor with enclosed cockpit and tricycle landing gear; registered G-ASRF it first flew on 13 OCtober 1966 at Panshanger.

## Specifications (L.A.4A)

Data from British Civil Aircraft 1919–1972: Volume III, Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59
General characteristics
* Crew: 1
* Length: 20 ft 9 in (6.32 m)
* Wingspan: 25 ft 0 in (7.62 m)
* Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
* Wing area: 125 sq ft (11.6 m$^2$)
* Aspect ratio: 5
* Airfoil: RAF 48
* Empty weight: 390 lb (177 kg)
* Gross weight: 627 lb (284 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 750 lb (340 kg)
* Fuel capacity: 6.5 imp gal (7.8 US gal; 30 L) with provision for auxiliary tanks in the wings
* Powerplant: 1 × Aeronca-J.A.P. J-99 air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine, 37 hp (28 kW)
             Alternative engines up to 65 hp (48 kW) can be fitted
* Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
Performance
* Maximum speed: 85 mph (137 km/h, 74 kn)
* Cruise speed: 75 mph (121 km/h, 65 kn)
* Stall speed: 28 mph (45 km/h, 24 kn)
* Range: 180 mi (290 km, 160 nmi)
* Ferry range: 400 mi (640 km, 350 nmi) with auxiliary wing fuel tanks
* Rate of climb: 450 ft/min (2.3 m/s)
* Wing loading: 5 lb/sq ft (24 kg/m$^2$)
* Power/mass: 0.0588 hp/lb (0.0967 kW/kg)
* Take-off run: 240 ft (73 m)
* Landing run: 120 ft (37 m)