On November 5 1985, Janowski's fifth design took wing. Like his earlier designs, the J-5 Marco is a low-powered single seat lightplane with a cockpit pod in front, engine mounted behind, and boom-mounted tail. However, where the J-1B, J-2, and even J-3 were relatively simple aircraft - perfectly suited to the homebuilder with a garage full of wood and a dream - the J-5 is a sophisticated hi-tech thoroughbred.

Specifications Model J-5 Marco Wingspan 26.5 ft Wing area 67.5 sq ft Airfoil Wortmann FX 67-K-170/15 Length 15.4 ft Empty Weight 352 lbs Gross Weight 640 lbs Engine 25-30 HP KFM 107 Maxi ER 2 cylinders, 2-stroke Cruise Speed 105 mph Landing Speed 48 mph Max Speed 135 mph Takeoff run 600 ft Glide ratio 16:1

Utilizing the latest in pre-molded composite technology and a gorgeous blown canopy, the sleek airframe minimized drag with a V-tail and a sailplane-style retractable center wheel landing gear. Taking further cues from the soaring world, Janowski incorporated a side-stick controller, both spoilers and full-span flaperons for glidepath control, and easily-removable wings for trailering and storage. The canopy was also designed to be jettisonable in flight if necessary.

The state-of-the-art lightweight KFM 107 Maxi ER engine from Italy (two-stroke, two-cylinder) was equipped with electric start and a belt-driven reduction unit and provided up to 30 horsepower. To maximize the efficiency of this miniature 50 pound powerplant, the flaperons were made capable of a reflexed position for high speed cruise.

For those who were less obsessed with absolute performance, the retractable gear could be omitted in favor of a conventional fixed landing gear. This configuration of the airplane also omitted the cranked-down wingtips which had been necessary for housing the auxiliary tip-wheels.

The Marco was put into production in West Germany, and was sold as a complete kit for the homebuilder or as a flying aircraft. Full certification was achieved in Poland, and many were sold in the European market. One notable French pilot flew his Marco all over Europe setting numerous speed-in-class records. In the US the Marco was marketed by Alpha/USA, who brought the demonstrator N7029G to Oshkosh in 1988. FAA regulations limited the production version of the J-5 to the Experimental: Exhibition category, and the kitplane version to the Experimental: Amateur-Built category. This however is not really a major inconvenience for a single-seat aircraft. Six J5 Marco airplanes eventually made their way into the US, and two are believed to still exist. The Alpha/USA sales brochure is reproduced: here. Another flyer is reproduced: here.

In 2004, a J5 airframe was developed into an autonomous UAV by UK aerospace giant BAE Systems. The HERTI (High Endurance Rapid Technology Insertion) model 1D is configured with the typical single wheel landing gear and a turbojet engine. Later developments of the HERTI use the larger J-6 Fregata airframe.

Doug Crane (CranePlanes.com) is currently using one of the US-import airframes to develop new power concepts for a light sport airplane - the Crane Fly J-5DC.

US Marcos: N7029G - Displayed at Oshkosh, August 1988 N66565 - Airworthiness data not listed N4190J - Sold in 2005 by Pitman Air, Corning CA. Since destroyed & deregistered. N10EK - Destroyed in a fatal accident, October 1990 N491BF - Currently flying. Owned by Anthony Cirincione, hangared in Ten Sleep, WY N305DC - Flown in 2006 by Doug Crane; currently undergoing modifications Sources: Marco's J5 Marco project www.rocznik.de [1] Pitman Air (www.pitmanair.com) N4190J | Operator's Manual [2] Skybird Sales (www.skybird.com) N491BF [3] J & AS Aero Design Ltd. (www.fregata.terramail.pl) F-WZUC [4] Air-Britain Photograpic Images Collection (www.abpic.co.uk) F-WZUC [5] Airliners.net (www.airliners.net) OO-119 | SP-YAC [6] Scott Perkins' Vintage UltraLight Association (www.vula.org) [7] Piotr Piechowski (www.piotrp.de) German version | Polish version [8] Stanislaw Gradolewski (sgrado.meil.pw.edu.pl) [9] Richard Ferriere (richard.ferriere.free.fr) SP-P042 [10] Wojciech Gorgolewski (stara.gorpol.pl) Dolinie Gasienicowej | January Roman (SP-P040, SP-FAC) [11] Mielec Aeroklub (www.aeroklub.mielec.pl) [12] Andrew Ross ("Who Is Jaroslaw Janowski, What has he done?" April 2000, Wesola Poland) [13] Doug Crane, owner and pilot N305DC [14] BAE Systems (www.baesystems.com) HERTI [15] David Lednicer (The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage) [16] EAA Sport Aviation "Homebuilt World" October 1988 [17] Federal Aviation Administration (registry.faa.gov) [18] National Transportation Safety Board (www.ntsb.gov) [19] Motorgliders interest group (groups.yahoo.com/group/motorgliders) [20] VULA mailing list (groups.yahoo.com/group/vula) [21] Janowski Aircraft Support forum (groups.yahoo.com/group/Janowski)