Welcome to the Arnold Company's Homepage

Hi, folks. My name is Mike Arnold. This is my little airplane. I was a filmmaker in San Francisco before I designed and built the AR-5, set a world speed record, and won the Louis Bleriot Medal. What a thrill! This is the story of the AR-5. Because I was a filmmaker, it was natural for me to keep a video record of the design and construction process. From those records, we've put together four informative video tapes which we offer below. MA, jul '02

"This four tape collection is a great study in highly efficient aerodynamic design and provides a great explanation and demonstration on how to construct with composite materials." Ben Owen, Sport Aviation Magazine, Mar '97


“NAA SELECTS 10 MOST MEMORABLE RECORD FLIGHTS OF 1992 (Jack Cox, Sport Aviation Magazine, April, 1993) From all the record flights made in 1992, ranging from modeling to spaceflight, the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) has selected the 10 most memorable, and one of them was Mike Arnold’s world speed record in the FAI’s Class C1.A/O for aircraft weighing less than 661 pounds at takeoff.Mike and his AR-5 were featured in our January ‘93 issue (page 34). The AR-5 has set the aeronautical engineering world on its ear because it is apparently the first airplane to break one of aircraft design's most durable barriers by having a flat plate drag area of less than one square foot. A number of noted aerodynamicists, including Bruce Carmichael and AlexStrojnik, have examined the airplane and determined that, indeed, its flatplate area is less than one square foot...about .88 square foot. Perhaps the most amazing to them is the fact that the aircraft was designed and built by a person with no engineering background, using only a few standard texts and EAAmanuals for reference. The message once again is that if given sufficient freedom, which is what the FAA’s current homebuilt rules allow, individuals can do wondrous things. Congratulations again, Mike! J.C.”


Some AR-5 Images


The AR-5 has been donated to the Hiller Aviation Institute through the generosity of the Lyn and David Berelsman Foundation, and is on permanent display at the Hiller Museum in San Carlos, CA. Please stop and visit if you're in the area. It's a very interesting museum.

 

Articles about the AR-5 published since 1993 (click on heading)

The AR-5, Getting The Most Out Of 65 HP, Mike Arnold, Sport Aviation Magazine, Jan. 1993

Getting to know the AR-5, Bruce Carmichael, Kitplanes Magazine, Oct. 1993

The hottest airplane money can't buy, Robert Goyer, Sport Pilot Magazine,May 1994

Drag Analysis of the Arnold AR-5 Airplane, Bruce Carmichael, CONTACT Magazine, Jan. 1994

Crockett Rocket (Pilot Report), Peter Lert, Air Progress Magazine, July1995

At last, something worthwhile for us couch potatoes (Video Reviews,Tape 1, Why it goes so fast, and Tape 2, How it's made),Peter Lert, Air Progress Magazine, July 1995

Builder's  Bookshelf  (VideoReviews, Tape 3, Moldless, low drag wheelpants, and Making Fiberglass Molds), Dave Martin, Kitplanes Magazines, Aug. 1996

Checking out a Record Setter (Pilot Report)  , Dave Martin, Kitplanes Magazine, Oct. 1999



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