Although slightly out of order in the list of 2 seater homebuilts of New Zealand, I include the Anderson Kingfisher here because it is quite similar to the Volmer Sportsman.
The Anderson EA-1 Kingfisher was designed by American airline captain Earl Anderson in the 1960's and the prototype first flew on 24/4/69. It differs from the Volmer in that it has a tractor motor (usually a 100 HP O-200), and the wings can be scratch-built or come from a Piper Cub. Length is 7.2 metres (23 feet 6 inches) and wingspan is 11.13 metres (36 feet 6 inches). Empty weight is 468 Kg (1,032 pounds) and MAUW is 680 Kg (1,500 pounds).
Our only Kingfisher is ZK-DJH (c/n AACA/165) which was built by Mac Bettjeman of Te Kuiti, and was first registered on 15/6/79. It used the wings off Piper Cub ZK-BKU (which was dmaged in a storm at Te Kaio Bay on 8/1/79, but was rebuilt and is still current - shades of Grand-Father's axe!).
The above photo was taken at the 1982 AACA flyin at Taupo. It was sold to VJ McKay of Riverton on 26/8/85. It was damaged when it landed on Lake Te Anau with the wheels down on 13/1/96, and it was cancelled on 18/9/97.
It was advertised for sale in August 2004, and ownership transferred to DR Baker of Greymouth, who rebuilt it and re-registered it on 26/4/10. The above photo shows it being test flown at Greymouth on 14/10/10 by Evan Belworthy. Thanks to Penny Belworthy for the photo.
The Anderson EA-1 Kingfisher was designed by American airline captain Earl Anderson in the 1960's and the prototype first flew on 24/4/69. It differs from the Volmer in that it has a tractor motor (usually a 100 HP O-200), and the wings can be scratch-built or come from a Piper Cub. Length is 7.2 metres (23 feet 6 inches) and wingspan is 11.13 metres (36 feet 6 inches). Empty weight is 468 Kg (1,032 pounds) and MAUW is 680 Kg (1,500 pounds).
The above photo was taken at the 1982 AACA flyin at Taupo. It was sold to VJ McKay of Riverton on 26/8/85. It was damaged when it landed on Lake Te Anau with the wheels down on 13/1/96, and it was cancelled on 18/9/97.
I have an Anderson Kingfisher that I am restoring. Would love to talk to anyone that has flown one.
ReplyDeleteSteve
strutschel@live.com