The Bantam B 10 was a significant aircraft for the New Zealand aviation industry as it was the fore-runner of more than 350 Bantams that have been manufactured at Te Kowhai by Micro Aviation.
In the 1980's Max Clear travelled to the United States looking for a microlight aircraft to purchase, but he could not find anything that suited. He returned home and formed a group of ten like minded Kiwi's to build a completely new aircraft which turned out to be the single seat Bantam B 10, which first flew in late 1983. The original plan was to build 10 aircraft - one for each of the group. The aircraft turned out to be so successful that a total of 15 were made and thus Micro Aviation was born. They were all registered over a short period of frantic microlight activity in just over one year. 9 of the 15 Bantam B 10's are still currently registered on the New Zealand Civil Register.
The Bantam B 10 was made from commercially available materials and was powered by a Rotax 503 engine.
I am not sure if photos of all the Bantam B 10's exist, but thanks to Blue Bus for these 2 photos. It would be great if any blog readers can post photos of other Bantam B 10's.
The prototype, ZK-FGI (c/n 0001) was first registered to D and JA Smith of Te Kowhai on 7/9/83. It is still current with Stan Hyde of Feilding.
ZK-KGG (c/n 0011) covered up at Timaru, but showing the lines of the B 10 to better effect.
The list of Bantam B 10's is as follows (I assume the the first 10 owners were the original group of 10 builders):
c/n 0001 - ZK-FGI - registered 7/9/83 to D & JA Smith of Te Kowhai.
c/n 0002 - ZK-ZII - registered 27/3/84 to R J Evans-McLeod of Frankton.
c/n 0003 - ZK-JLD - registered 26/3/84 to J & L Dick of Hamilton.
c/n 0004 - ZK-NJB - registered 26/3/84 to NW & JA Bailey of Hamilton.
c/n 0005 - ZK-FIF - registered 26/3/84 to AM Harrison of Hamilton.
c/n 0006 - ZK-MWV - registered 26/3/84 to MW Vickers of Frankton.
c/n 0007 - ZK-RDB - registered 5/7/84 to MR Clear of Te Kowhai.
c/n 0008 - ZK-KEV - registered 5/7/84 to KA Ryan of Hamilton.
c/n 0009 - ZK-ZAK - registered 5/7/84 to GC Southgate of Hamilton.
c/n 0010 - ZK-LII - registered 5/7/84 to MR Smith of Hamilton.
c/n 0011 - ZK-KGG - registered 6/11/84 to JS Smith and MR Clear of Te Kowhai.
c/n 0012 - ZK-JEP - registered 6/11/84 to JS Smith and MR Clear of Te Kowhai.
c/n 0013 - ZK-TIL - registered 29/11/84 to EH Webber of Hamilton.
c/n MAANZ 293 - ZK-FKE - registered 26/10/84 to C Williams of Hora Hora.
c/n MAANZ 294 - ZK-ROW - registered 26/10/84 to RO Williams of Hora Hora.
In the 1980's Max Clear travelled to the United States looking for a microlight aircraft to purchase, but he could not find anything that suited. He returned home and formed a group of ten like minded Kiwi's to build a completely new aircraft which turned out to be the single seat Bantam B 10, which first flew in late 1983. The original plan was to build 10 aircraft - one for each of the group. The aircraft turned out to be so successful that a total of 15 were made and thus Micro Aviation was born. They were all registered over a short period of frantic microlight activity in just over one year. 9 of the 15 Bantam B 10's are still currently registered on the New Zealand Civil Register.
The Bantam B 10 was made from commercially available materials and was powered by a Rotax 503 engine.
I am not sure if photos of all the Bantam B 10's exist, but thanks to Blue Bus for these 2 photos. It would be great if any blog readers can post photos of other Bantam B 10's.
The list of Bantam B 10's is as follows (I assume the the first 10 owners were the original group of 10 builders):
c/n 0001 - ZK-FGI - registered 7/9/83 to D & JA Smith of Te Kowhai.
c/n 0002 - ZK-ZII - registered 27/3/84 to R J Evans-McLeod of Frankton.
c/n 0003 - ZK-JLD - registered 26/3/84 to J & L Dick of Hamilton.
c/n 0004 - ZK-NJB - registered 26/3/84 to NW & JA Bailey of Hamilton.
c/n 0005 - ZK-FIF - registered 26/3/84 to AM Harrison of Hamilton.
c/n 0006 - ZK-MWV - registered 26/3/84 to MW Vickers of Frankton.
c/n 0007 - ZK-RDB - registered 5/7/84 to MR Clear of Te Kowhai.
c/n 0008 - ZK-KEV - registered 5/7/84 to KA Ryan of Hamilton.
c/n 0009 - ZK-ZAK - registered 5/7/84 to GC Southgate of Hamilton.
c/n 0010 - ZK-LII - registered 5/7/84 to MR Smith of Hamilton.
c/n 0011 - ZK-KGG - registered 6/11/84 to JS Smith and MR Clear of Te Kowhai.
c/n 0012 - ZK-JEP - registered 6/11/84 to JS Smith and MR Clear of Te Kowhai.
c/n 0013 - ZK-TIL - registered 29/11/84 to EH Webber of Hamilton.
c/n MAANZ 293 - ZK-FKE - registered 26/10/84 to C Williams of Hora Hora.
c/n MAANZ 294 - ZK-ROW - registered 26/10/84 to RO Williams of Hora Hora.
I mathew timu of hastings own b10/zk_zii i purchased it in 2009 from stewart Brookings of wairoa
ReplyDeleteI owned KGG in this photo when on a a rally in Timaru. I did more than 100 hrs in this machine a loved it. KGG is now at Rangitata Island with the Brodie family.
ReplyDeleteI purchased LII another B10 number 10 of Phil Purchase a year or so ago. LII first belonged to Max Clear so I’m thrilled to be preserving this piece of history. It is now at RANGIORA airfield housed in the roof of a hanger by an electric winch. I still fly it on nice days and enjoy it.
Chris Pennell