View source for DGRCN Tonatiuh MX-1

{{short description|High-wing monoplane utility}}
{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
| name    = Tonatiuh MX-1
| image   =
}}{{Infobox aircraft type
|type     = [[Utility aircraft]] <br/> [[Trainer aircraft]] <br/> [[Reconnaissance aircraft]]
|national origin = {{MEX}}
|manufacturer = Dirección General de Reparaciones y Construcciones Navales
|designer = César Trujillo Carrillo<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://tesis.ipn.mx/bitstream/handle/123456789/14330/2013%20MARIA%20DE%20LA%20LUZ%20AGUILERA%20DE%20LUCIO.pdf?sequence=1
|title=Capacidades tecnológicas de la industria aeronáutica mexicana entre 1960 y 1980
|trans-title=Technological capacities of the Mexican aeronautical industry between 1960 and 1980
|last=Aguilera de Lucio
|first=María de la Luz
|date=August 20, 2013
|pages=109
|publisher=Instituto Politécnico Nacional
|access-date=January 12, 2019}}</ref>
|first flight = June 1, 1980
|status      = Retired (2006)
|produced    =
|number built = 8
|unit cost   =
|variants with their own articles = [[Bárcenas B-01]]
}}
|}
The Tonatiuh MX-1 was a lightweight, [[Wing configuration#Number and position of main planes|high-wing monoplane]] built by the [[Secretariat of the Navy]] of Mexico in collaboration with the [[Instituto Politécnico Nacional]] (National Polytechnic Institute).
== Design and development ==
The project began in 1977 when a group of engineers from the [[Instituto Politécnico Nacional|IPN]] reconstructed a [[Piper PA-18]], after several discussions it was decided that it was better to design an own aircraft which was initially called '''Project CIAAC 7701'''. The design and calculation works were done under the name of '''TONATIUH Project''' in the offices of the General Directorate of Repairs and Naval Construction. Engineer César Trujillo was appointed by the Secretariat of the Navy to advice on the construction of the first prototype, beginning work in 1978 at the Aeronaval Station of the [[Mexico City International Airport]].<ref name=rcgroups>{{cite web
|url=https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?1075164-Museo-Virtual-de-la-Aviaci%C3%B3n-Mexicana/page7
|title=Artículo sobre El Tonatiuh MX-1
|trans-title=Article about Tonatiuh MX-1
|date=January 28, 2010
|publisher=RC Groups
|access-date=March 8, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=https://sites.google.com/site/aircraftmanufacturinginmexico/aura
|title=Mexican built Agricultural Aircraft
|publisher=Aircraft manufacturing in Mexico
|access-date=March 8, 2019
|archive-date=April 17, 2019
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417165719/https://sites.google.com/site/aircraftmanufacturinginmexico/aura
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>
The Tonatiuh MX-1 bases its design almost entirely on the [[Bárcenas B-01]] agricultural aircraft, since it shares components and design such as the wing profile, beams, ribs and tensioners with this aircraft. The wing section was designed for the needs of the Tonatiuh and many of the metal components were manufactured by the company CUPRUM, who also made components for the Bárcenas B-01.<ref name=rcgroups />
The first prototype was ready in April 1980 and once it was built, it was disarmed and sent to the [[Veracruz International Airport|Veracruz Air Base]], where it was rebuilt and prepared for its first flight. During the first flight tests there were problems with the tail skate and the control surfaces of the rudder and the ailerons, so all these systems were redesigned, all in order to start their first flight on June 1, 1980, on the day of the Navy. On his first flight, he made low-altitude maneuvers near the Malecón de Veracruz, in conjunction with the Tonatiuh, other [[Beechcraft Bonanza|Bonanza]] and [[Grumman HU-16 Albatross|Albatross]] aircraft performed acrobatics in the sea and near many ships.<ref name=rcgroups />
The development of the plane cost only 2 million pesos in the late 70's (about $80,700 at that time, about $290,000 today), which is said to have been a success because developing a light aircraft with similar characteristics in the United States would have cost 21 times more, in addition they had to create in Mexico the necessary tools for its construction. The Tonatiuh MX-1 was also 35% cheaper than its foreign competitor, the Piper PA-18.<ref name=rcgroups /><ref name="TONATIUH MX-1 Airplane - Mexico">{{cite web
|url=http://blogdepasm.blogspot.com/2009/07/avion-tonatiuh-mx-1-mexico.html
|title=Avión TONATIUH MX-1 - México
|trans-title=TONATIUH MX-1 Airplane - Mexico
|date=July 27, 2009
|publisher=Alacrán (HA-500)
|access-date=March 8, 2019}}</ref><ref name="IPN Tonatiuh MX-1">{{cite web
|url=https://www.aviationsmilitaires.net/v2/base/view/Model/1082.html
|title=IPN Tonatiuh MX-1
|trans-title=IPN Tonatiuh MX-1
|date=September 17, 2014
|publisher=AviationsMilitaires.net
|access-date=March 8, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal
| last1   = Castillo Tenorio
| first1  = Isabel
| last2   = Ortiz Morales
| first2  = Andrés
| date    = August 15, 2010
| title   = Aportaciones del IPN a la aeronáutica en México
| trans-title = Contributions of Instituto Politécnico Nacional to aeronautics in Mexico
| url     = https://www.repositoriodigital.ipn.mx/bitstream/123456789/5443/1/Ciencia%20y%20desarrollo%20245%20Castillo%20Ortiz.pdf
| language = Spanish
| journal = Ciencia y Desarrollo
| volume  = 236
| issue   = 245
| pages   = 42
| issn    = 0185-0008
| access-date = March 8, 2019}}</ref>
In 1982 the Navy of Mexico acquired six of the eight manufactured aircraft, which remained in service until 2006, using them as a training, observation and reconnaissance aircraft.<ref name="TONATIUH MX-1 Airplane - Mexico">{{cite web
|url=http://blogdepasm.blogspot.com/2009/07/avion-tonatiuh-mx-1-mexico.html
|title=Avión TONATIUH MX-1 - México
|trans-title=TONATIUH MX-1 Airplane - Mexico
|date=July 27, 2009
|publisher=Alacrán (HA-500)
|access-date=March 8, 2019}}</ref><ref name="IPN Tonatiuh MX-1"/>
== Specifications ==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=TONATIUH MX-1 Airplane - Mexico<ref name="TONATIUH MX-1 Airplane - Mexico">{{cite web
|url=http://blogdepasm.blogspot.com/2009/07/avion-tonatiuh-mx-1-mexico.html
|title=Avión TONATIUH MX-1 - México
|trans-title=TONATIUH MX-1 Airplane - Mexico
|date=July 27, 2009
|publisher=Alacrán (HA-500)
|access-date=March 8, 2019}}</ref>
|prime units?=kts
|crew=2
|length m=7
|span m=10
|airfoil=Bárcenas Airfoil
|height m=2.13
|empty weight lb=770
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Lycoming O-320]]
|eng1 type=4-cyl. air-cooled horizontally opposed piston engine
|eng1 hp=160
|max speed kmh=195
|endurance=3.5 hours}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Mexican military aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft manufactured in Mexico]]