Meet Aero Designs Mini-IMP
The Mini-IMP puts its single occupant ahead of a pusher propeller and an inverted V-tail. The designer’s cockpit description places the pilot in a reclining seat under a canopy, with mechanical rods carrying the control inputs to a mixer and cables continuing aft. Its unusual outline comes from packaging the pilot, engine and tail around a compact single-seat aircraft.
The tail surfaces combine rudder and elevator functions. Pitch trim changes the tail’s incidence rather than moving an elevator trim tab. The wing-camber adjustment also participates in the design’s trim arrangement.
History & design
Molt Taylor simplifies the IMP
During the energy crisis of the mid-1970s, Molt Taylor pursued a small homebuilt that emphasised efficient cruise and simpler construction. The Mini-IMP scaled down his earlier 2+2-seat IMP, whose complexity and cost had proved difficult for an average builder. The result was a single-seat design intended to accept a range of engines.
The Mini-IMP company later continued plans and builder support. Its background explains the aircraft's unusual mix of a small cockpit, tail-mounted propeller and retractable landing gear: efficiency and buildability shaped the arrangement.
Mini-IMP Aircraft Company · Mini-IMP Aircraft Company ↗Systems & details
A tail that changes incidence
The designer describes a manually adjustable inverted V-tail. Changing its incidence changes the aerodynamic pitching balance, while the mixer lets the same pair of tail surfaces answer pitch and yaw commands. The accompanying wing-camber adjustment belongs to this coordinated arrangement. This is mechanical control and aerodynamic trim.
The prototype’s retractable gear
The designer’s original gear mechanism uses mechanical retraction, with powered alternatives described for other builds.
A1R’s Mini-IMP
A1R describes its rendition with a Lycoming O-235 pusher engine and retractable tricycle landing gear.
An inverted V-tail beside the pusher propeller
The company describes the inverted V-tail as serving both aerodynamic and structural aims. It also leaves room for the tail-mounted propeller and the clearance needed as the aircraft rotates. The designer attributes favourable yaw-roll coupling to this arrangement; that is an attributed design explanation rather than a force measurement.
Mini-IMP Aircraft Company · Mini-IMP — Tail ↗In your simulator
No released simulator product is listed for this aircraft in the developers reviewed. Announced products are excluded.
Manuals & resources
Read the original documentation from the people who created it. Manuals open on their publisher’s website.
Aircraft background
Mini-IMP — Canopy and CockpitMini-IMP Aircraft Company · Aircraft identity, history and configuration. A1R Design BureauA1R Design Bureau · A1R Mini-IMP product description. Mini-IMP — TailMini-IMP Aircraft Company · Designer’s tail description. Mini-IMP — Landing GearMini-IMP Aircraft Company · Designer prototype and optional builder arrangements.Aircraft documentation
Mini-IMP Aircraft CompanyMini-IMP Aircraft Company · Mini-IMP Aircraft Company account of Molt Taylor's design development.Built-in force-feedback profiles
Read the documentary basis, editable starting settings and remaining questions for the aircraft you fly. Each explanation refers to the exact profile revision shown.
Catalogue programme-20261011-v3 · 2 profile choices
A1R Design Bureau Mini-IMP
A1R Design Bureau · Free and Pro · Revision 2 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2020
The Mini-IMP puts its single occupant ahead of a pusher propeller and an inverted V-tail.
Aero Designs Mini-IMP
Free and Pro · Revision 1 · Partial review
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024 · X-Plane 12
The Mini-IMP puts its single occupant ahead of a pusher propeller and an inverted V-tail.
Aero Designs Mini-IMP
The Mini-IMP puts its single occupant ahead of a pusher propeller and an inverted V-tail.
Aircraft and simulator scope
- Aero Designs Mini-IMP · MSFS 2020 · Variant starting point
- Aero Designs Mini-IMP · MSFS 2024 · Variant starting point
- Aero Designs Mini-IMP · X-Plane 12 · Variant starting point
Universal named airframe/configuration; intended MSFS2020/MSFS2024/XP12 starting point, not add-on or edition acceptance. · Physical facts and prior documentary review are reused from their archived dated sources; new market availability is not inferred.
The simulator model and controls
The Mini-IMP puts its single occupant ahead of a pusher propeller and an inverted V-tail.
How this profile feels
Spring resistance builds with the selected airspeed response. A separate aerodynamic term adds speed-dependent control load.
Valid trim provides the configured pressure relief. Autopilot following is off.
Aircraft and configuration
The selected A1R configuration has a Lycoming O-235 pusher and retractable tricycle gear.
About the values
Strengths are normalized hardware-feel settings. They set the effect balance; hand force depends on the device and its limits. The IAS reference is a tuning value.
What the documentation establishes
Aero Designs Mini-IMP: The selected A1R configuration has a Lycoming O-235 pusher and retractable tricycle gear.
Documentary review and sources
These decisions describe the documentary basis and remaining gaps for this revision. Aircraft documentation and a starting setting describe different kinds of evidence.
Aircraft and variant
ReviewedThe Mini-IMP puts its single occupant ahead of a pusher propeller and an inverted V-tail.
Flight controls
InheritedThe Mini-IMP puts its single occupant ahead of a pusher propeller and an inverted V-tail.
Trim
InheritedPitch trim: Variable tail incidence. Pitch authority 0.3 provides load relief and permitted centre movement; roll authority is 0.
Autopilot and stability
ReviewedAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel.
Equipment
InheritedThe selected A1R configuration has a Lycoming O-235 pusher and retractable tricycle gear.
Speeds and limits
InheritedThe indicated-speed references set the profile response scale; they are separate from aircraft operating limits.
Simulator integration
ReviewedThe profile targets msfs2020, msfs2024, xplane12. Add-on-specific controls use only the supported references configured by this profile.
Force-feedback settings
InheritedThe settings define the profile’s effect balance. Device output limits affect physical hand force.
Starting settings and their rationale
These configured values are starting estimates. The explanations describe what each setting controls; physical validation appears separately below.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring strength | Starting value0.74 | What it controls and whyThis profile uses reversible-control loading for Aero Designs Mini-IMP. The baseline spring is 0.74. Its low-speed blend reaches baseline strength at 45 KIAS. |
| Master force gain | Starting value0.85 | What it controls and whyScales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits. |
| Profile force gain | Starting value0.8 | What it controls and whyThe aerodynamic-load gain is 0.8 with an indicated-speed reference of 130 KIAS. This supplies speed-dependent loading alongside the spring. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value130 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS reference for aerodynamic loading. It is an estimate, not published cruise TAS or a flight limit. |
| Spring response reference speed | Starting value45 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed blend reaches baseline strength; high-speed stiffening also uses it. |
| Aileron force scale | Starting value0.72 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.72 and 1, respectively. They set the aerodynamic axis balance. No custom spring-travel curve is enabled. |
| Elevator force scale | Starting value1.0 | What it controls and whyScales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings. |
| Trim feel | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyRetained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement. |
| Trim relief | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyAllows trim relief with supported control law and valid telemetry. Axis authorities set its amount. |
| Autopilot follow | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel. |
| Autopilot neutral hold | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyPermits centering hold during a supported AP state, separate from following a moving target. |
| Output force limit | Starting value0.55 | What it controls and whyCaps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate. |
All 44 starting settings and their rationale
The settings define the profile’s effect balance. Device output limits affect physical hand force.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring strength | Starting value0.74 | What it controls and whyThis profile uses reversible-control loading for Aero Designs Mini-IMP. The baseline spring is 0.74. Its low-speed blend reaches baseline strength at 45 KIAS. |
| Profile force gain | Starting value0.8 | What it controls and whyThe aerodynamic-load gain is 0.8 with an indicated-speed reference of 130 KIAS. This supplies speed-dependent loading alongside the spring. |
| Elevator force scale | Starting value1.0 | What it controls and whyScales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings. |
| Aileron force scale | Starting value0.72 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.72 and 1, respectively. They set the aerodynamic axis balance. No custom spring-travel curve is enabled. |
| Output force limit | Starting value0.55 | What it controls and whyCaps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate. |
Aero Designs Mini-IMP: Designer documents variable tail-incidence pitch trim, without trim tabs or bungee displacement. Aerodynamic pitch relief is approximated; exact handle-to-equilibrium mapping unqualified. Estimated pitch/roll trim authorities 0.3/0; exact add-on sign, travel, units and build-specific neutral remain unqualified. Rudder trim never substitutes for roll trim.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Elevator Authority | Starting value0.3 | What it controls and whyPitch trim: Variable tail incidence. Pitch authority 0.3 provides load relief and permitted centre movement; roll authority is 0. |
| Aileron Authority | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyScales supported roll-trim relief and permitted centre movement. Zero removes roll response. |
Aero Designs Mini-IMP: 130 KIAS is the retained estimated tuning reference. It is not published cruise TAS, VNE, a new flight limit or a measured force threshold. Source-specific operating quantities remain attached to their original configuration and conditions.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value130 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS reference for aerodynamic loading. It is an estimate, not published cruise TAS or a flight limit. |
The designer wing-camber/flaperon mechanism lacks a qualified generic flap contract, so generic flap cues remain disabled.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyThe designer wing-camber/flaperon mechanism lacks a qualified generic flap contract, so generic flap cues remain disabled. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyThe designer wing-camber/flaperon mechanism lacks a qualified generic flap contract, so generic flap cues remain disabled. |
Exact configured values with software explanations. Force magnitudes remain editable estimates; disabled features retain inactive values.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring deadband | Starting value0.04 | What it controls and whySets travel around the centre before the baseline spring resists. Smaller values engage it sooner. |
| Master force gain | Starting value0.85 | What it controls and whyScales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits. |
| QBlend Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyAllows baseline spring strength to rise with indicated airspeed where the control law permits it. |
| QSpring Minimum Factor | Starting value0.55 | What it controls and whySets low-speed spring strength as a fraction of baseline when blending is enabled. One keeps full strength. |
| QSpring Start Knots | Starting value10 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed spring blend starts rising. This is a feel threshold, not a flight limit. |
| Spring response reference speed | Starting value45 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed blend reaches baseline strength; high-speed stiffening also uses it. |
| Airspeed spring stiffening gain | Starting value0.15 | What it controls and whyThe high-speed spring-stiffening gain is 0.15. It strengthens the permitted spring response above 45 KIAS, with the squared-speed ratio capped at 5. |
| Airspeed spring stiffening limit | Starting value5 | What it controls and whyLimits the squared airspeed ratio used for high-speed spring stiffening; it is not a device-force cap. |
| Trim feel | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyRetained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement. |
| Trim relief | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyAllows trim relief with supported control law and valid telemetry. Axis authorities set its amount. |
| Force Trim Enabled | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyEnables local force trim, separate from aircraft-owned trim and add-on integration qualification. |
| GLoad Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyAllows load-factor changes to modify permitted spring laws. Passive fly-by-wire feel can suppress it. |
| Rate Damping Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables rate damping with the configured coefficients and control law. |
| Autopilot follow | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel. |
| Autopilot follow authority | Starting value0.1 | What it controls and whySets admitted AP-follow gain, not a percentage of travel. Runtime ownership and input limits still apply. |
| Autopilot neutral hold | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyPermits centering hold during a supported AP state, separate from following a moving target. |
| Autopilot neutral hold strength | Starting value0.6 | What it controls and whySets admitted AP neutral-hold strength; inactive while neutral hold is disabled. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables aerodynamic cues; each still needs nonzero strength and its simulator conditions. |
| Gain | Starting value0.35 | What it controls and whySets stall-buffet strength. Zero removes the cue without changing simulator stalls or warnings. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets high-Mach buffet strength; onset and full-strength thresholds are separate. |
| Maximum flap index | Starting value3 | What it controls and whySets the final flap index for detent normalization. UP plus three detents uses maximum index3. |
| Minimum flap index | Starting value2 | What it controls and whySets the first flap detent that admits buffet; this is a handle index, not degrees. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets gear aerodynamic buffet; movement and ground-contact cues are separate. |
| Shaker Enabled | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyPermits shaker at supported warning conditions; the switch does not establish aircraft equipment. |
| Stick shaker amplitude | Starting value0.5 | What it controls and whySets triggered shaker strength; inactive while the shaker feature is disabled. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables ground effects; each still needs its own strength and contact or motion telemetry. |
| Gain | Starting value0.4 | What it controls and whySets rolling texture strength, modified by speed, surface and undercarriage configuration. |
| Gain | Starting value0.25 | What it controls and whySets gear-bump texture during ground motion, separate from touchdown impact. |
| Gain | Starting value0.65 | What it controls and whySets landing-impact strength; landing telemetry and response shape determine the pulse. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets reverse-thrust vibration with valid reverser and engine conditions. Zero removes the cue. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables engine cues with nonzero settings and valid running-engine telemetry. |
| Gain | Starting value0.12 | What it controls and whySets estimated engine vibration using configured telemetry and response, not measured cockpit vibration. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables accessory cues with configured strengths and observed accessory movement. |
| Gain | Starting value0.025 | What it controls and whySets texture from observed gear movement, separate from aerodynamic and touchdown effects. |
Limits and open questions
- Aero Designs Mini-IMP is a universal starting point; exact add-on matching, edition operation and physical hand-force calibration remain unqualified.
- Autopilot movement and unknown custom trim, failure or force-input signals are disabled. Confirm the selected equipment fit and trim direction for the implementation in use.
- Force magnitudes and speed tuning are editable inherited estimates. Owner physical and installed-aircraft acceptance remain pending.
Physical validation
No physical force validation is recorded in this public catalogue for this revision. Documentary review and software checks do not establish how a particular device feels.
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