TYPE: Aerobatic two-seat lightplane.

PROGRAMME: Based on original 1947 Meyers MAC-145A, certified 2 November 1948, and 22 built (including two MAC-125s), but with increased power. Redesign started by Micco Aircraft March 1994, using converted MAC-145 (N520SP); construction started June 1995 and prototype (N720SP) first flown 17 December 1997. First production aircraft (N820SP) construction started January 1999. Certification to FAR Pt 23 issued 5 January 2000, with deliveries soon after. Second production aircraft shown at Sun 'n' Fun, Lakeland, Florida, April 2000, before delivery to TE Aero, Texas; third production aircraft to Clipper Aviation of Oneonta, New York, June 2000. Aircraft registered using MAC-145A (SP20) and MAC-145B (SP26) type certificates, which transferred to LanShe on 22 February 2003.

CURRENT VERSIONS: SP20: Baseline version.
SP26: Updated and uprated aerobatic version. Six-cylinder engine in longer cowling, but firewall moved rearwards by identical distance (30 cm; 12 in), resulting in no overall change of fuselage length. Prominent strakes ahead of tailplane on prototype have now been removed. Prototype converted from N820SP; debut at Sun 'n' Fun, April 2000. Certification n Utility category granted on 19 October 2000 for 113 kg (250 lb) extension of MTOW over SP20. First production aircraft (N201MA) flew 15 November 2000 and delivered on 26 December 2000 to Andrew Spaulding of Cumberland, Maine. Aerobatic certification achieved 4 March 2002.

CUSTOMERS: Over 50 on order by end 2000, including 24 SP26; deliveries in 2000 totalled five SP20s and one SP26, and in 2001, 10 SP26s. When production suspended in October 2001, status was eight SP20s completed (two prototypes, including one to SP26 prototype; one static test; and single aircraft to SoCal Aviation, P T Esposito, Sportsman Air Park, Douglas Taylor and Dean Maggio), 11 complete production SP26s (Andrew Spaulding, Robert A Csognor, Grant Air Servicing, SoCal Aviation, Jim B Sayers, Cordes Air, Sportsman Air Park, Westminster College, Robert and Brittan William, Robert G Boston and Micco) first delivery following LanShe acquisition took place on 3 May 2003, with SP26 prototype N820SP (c/n 260001) handed over to Debra Cunningham of Gonzalez, Texas.

COSTS: SP20 US$199,000, SP26 US$256,000, standard equipped (2003).

DESIGN FEATURES: Low-wing, high-performance, metal sport aircraft; low development cost achieved by employment of existing design. Major changes from MAC-145A include replacement of the 108 kW (145 hp) Continental engine; substitution of a Meyers 200 fin and rudder; wings and flaps from the Meyers 400 Interceptor; and provision of a sliding canopy in place of the fixed canopy and side doors.

FLYING CONTROLS: Conventional and manual. Horn-balanced cable-operated rudder with ground-adjustable trim tab; horn-balanced push/pull tube-controlled elevators with flight-adjustable tabs in each. Control movements: elevator +28/-20°; ailerons +22/-12°; rudder ±22°. Electrically operated Fowler flaps, max deflection 30°.

STRUCTURE: 4130 steel tube centre section and all-aluminium wings.

LANDING GEAR: Tailwheel type; main units retract inward into wings, tailwheel rearward; mainwheel doors cover legs only when retracted, wheel wells remaining exposed. Electrohydraulic Parker Hannifin hydraulic brakes and leaf spring shock-absorbers. 6.00-6 tyres on mainwheel; 10 cm (4 in) solid tailwheel. Ground turning radius about wingtip 6.07 m (19 ft 11 in).

POWER PLANT: SP20: One 149 kW (200 hp) Textron Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 flat-four driving a three-blade, constant-speed McCauley QZP (B3D36C424/74SA-0) propeller.
SP26: One 194 kW (260 hp) Textron Lycoming IO-540-T4B5 flat-six driving a three-blade, constant-speed Hartzell HC-C3YR-1RF/F7693F Compact propeller.
Fuel (both versions) in integral wing tanks, combined capacity 273 litres (72.0 US gallons; 60.0 Imp gallons), of which 257 litres (68.0 US gallons; 56.6 Imp gallons) are usable. Three drain points. Oil capacity 7.6 litres (2.0 US gallons; 1.67 Imp gallons) in SP20, 9.5 litres (2.5 US gallons; 2.1 Imp gallons) in SP26. Aerobatic versions have two additional 57 litre (15.0 US gallon; 12.5 Imp gallon) tanks located in the centre-section outboard of cabin area.

ACCOMMODATION: Two, side by side, under rearward-sliding canopy. Baggage area behind seats.

SYSTEMS: 28 V 70 A alternator and battery; landing lights.

AVIONICS: VFR or IFR standards available, recommended Trimble Terra suite; S-Tec 30 two-axis autopilot and Apollo MX20 multifunction display optional.

EQUIPMENT: Landing/taxying light in each wing leading-edge.