Jean Saint-Germain Raz-Muts of New Zealand (Only One)

The unattractive sounding Raz-Mut was designed by Jean Saint-Germain of Drummondville in Quebec in 1976.  I reckon it was also unattractive looking!  It was designed as an easy to build and easy to fly ultralight but in New Zealand our sole example was registered as an Amateur Built Aircraft under the auspices of the AACA (Amateur Aircraft Constructors Association).  The fuselage construction was based on the Bensen B8 gyrocopter and the wings were of all aluminium construction and the empennage was aluminium with fabric covering.  An example was flown at Oshkosh in 1977 with a 1700cc VW engine.  The Raz-Mut was marketed as a kit.

Empty weight was around 173 Kg (380 pounds) and the MAUW was 363 Kg (800 ponds).  The performance was not spectacular with a cruise speed of 60 knots and a stall speed of around 33 knots.

We have had only one Raz-Mut constructed in New Zealand as follows:

ZK-LGW (c/n AACA 574) was built by Laurie Grant of Warkworth (hence the registration I assume) and it was registered to him on 2/3/83.  It was powered by a 1834cc VW engine.  Laurie was an ex WW II Spitfire pilot and a founding member of the Rodney Aero Club at Kaipara Flats airfield.  Laurie assembled his Raz-Mut at Ardmore where Bob Kerr took the above photo in December 1982.  I think it test flew at Ardmore but on 23/5/83 Laurie attempted his first flight at Kaipara Flats where the aircraft stalled on climb out and crashed, injuring Laurie Grant.  It was not rebuilt and was cancelled from the register on 28/9/90.