Sunday 12 August 2012

Sorrell SNS-2 Guppy's of New Zealand (Only One to Date)

The Sorrell Guppy is a negative stagger single seat microlight cabin biplane which was designed by Hobie Sorrell in the mid 1980's. The SNS-2 model is of all wood construction.  Its length is 15 feet 3 inches (4.65 metres) and its wingspan is 21 feet 3 inches (6.48 metres).   Its empty weight is 350pounds (159 Kg) and MAUW is 600 pounds (272 Kg).  Later models have been designed with metal tube airframes.

The photo is from the Keith Morris collection and was taken at the 2009 SAANZ flyin at Ashburton.

ZK-JGK (c/n GUPPY-1) was built by prolific aircraft builders Alan and Evan Belworthy, and was first registered to K and A Belworthy of Glentui on 27/9/95.  Its first flight was on 1/10/95.  As can be seen it has a VW engine.  Alan told me that this is the only Belworthy aircraft that they have ever sold, and ownership transferred to the J and N Syndicate (Jack Howden and Neil Stuckey) of Ashburton on 14/2/99. Later it was bought outright by Neil Stuckey on 29/4/05.  It is still current and based at Ashburton.

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