The Melmoth 2 was started in August 1981 as a composite follow-on to the complex Melmoth homebuilt. Initial fuselage lay-up was performed by Garrison along with engineerBurt Rutan and future privateastronautMike Melvill, who also performed a fair number of the test flights. The aircraft is a single engine four-seat retractable tricycle gearlow-wing with a T-tail arrangement. The rear seats face aft. The engine is cooled using updraft air which enters through a single inlet below the spinner and emerges from the top of the cowling near the spinner. A single airbrake panel opens under the fuselage. The tapered wings are equipped with large Fowler flaps. The original design has been modified with 45-degree sweep winglets and gear doors.