it is a low-wing cantilever monoplane of metal construction, primarily of 2024-t3 aluminum and most are fitted with fixed tailwheel undercarriage. developed by piper engineer david long in 1948, plans for production by schweizer were underway at the time of long's death two years later. all rights and tooling were purchased by robert bushby in 1959, who built a 90 hp continental powered example and sold plans and kits until 1992 when the rights were sold to mustang aeronautics. the midget mustang design being marketed in 2016 is similar to the original, with the option of building it with a bubble canopy in place of the straight line of the upper tailcone and hinged canopy of long's original design, making it an m-ia.