UK Two-Seat Lift-Body Light Aircraft or What ?

The PFA's design competition,
originally announced in 1976, is now
an annual event and its criteria include
a one- or two-seat aircraft up
to a gross weight of 1,250lb, designed
for amateur construction. The Sywell
Trophy, donated by the directors of
Sywell Aerodrome for the design
most suitable for homebuilding, went
to Mike Whittaker for his MW3-2
Airkart, a VW-powered single-seater
with V-tail. The Rolls-Royce prize for
the best Rolls-powered design went to
the Warton Group for its T-tailed
Zephyr, which has removable wings
and will probably be initially powered
by a 130 h.p. 0-240. A newcomer to
the design drawings on show was the
extraordinary Minifoil, a two-seat
"lifting body" with an integral pusher
fan, fin and rudder, and elevons for
control in pitch and roll.

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