We have had 3 Protech PT 2s in New Zealand to date, and they all originated from the Hawkes Bay Chapter of the AACA. They bought four kits into New Zealand in the late 1980s, and reckoned that the Protech would be a great Jodel D 11 replacement.
The Protech PT 2 was produced by Protech Aircraft Inc of Richmond, Texas and has been developed into the PT 2B and PT 2C with more powerful engines. It was constructed from a pre-welded steel tube fuselage and had folding aluminium wings. Its wingspan was 31 feet 9 inches (9.68 metres), and length was 18 feet 8 inches (5.68 metres). Empty weight is around 700 pounds (318 Kg) and MAUW was 1,500 pounds (680 Kg). On its original 65 HP engine cruise was 95 mph and the stall was a very low 30 mph.
The first PT 2 to appear was Callum Campbell's ZK-PTS (c/n AACA/1089) which was first registered on 24/8/90, and was the first of the three to fly. It is photo'd above at the 1992 AACA flyin at Tauranga. Tragically it was lost in a crash in the Kaweka Ranges on 20/11/92, with the loss of 2 lives. It was cancelled on 2/6/93.
The second PT 2 was Greg McNicol's ZK-PTT (c/n AACA/43/3) which was first registered on 28/11/90. Greg flew his Protech widely around New Zealand, and it is photo'd above at an airshow at Ohakea. It was sold to SR Shepherd of Havelock North on 15/10/98 and then to the PTT Syndicate of New Plymouth on 28/11/00. It was then sold to E.M.T Haulage of Mt Maunganui on 18/6/07.
Finally it was sold to the West Coast, to NE Wilson of Reefton, on 10/2/11. Somewhere along the line it was repainted, and it is currently for sale on Trade Me from where I filched the above photo.
And the third PT 2 of the trio was Charlie Janes ZK-PTU (c/n AACA/431) which was first registered on 31/1/92. Charlie has used ZK-PTU extensively for flying into bush airstrips in the ranges on hunting trips, and has documented his experiences in several books with photos of ZK-PTU. (Charlie also built Jodel D 11 ZK-EFK for the same purpose, but no doubt the Protech has a big advantage with its high wing). I have never seen ZK-PTU however the above photo is supplied by Greybeard who came across the aircraft in a field out behind Murupara when he was looking for local helicopters. Thanks for the photo Greybeard.
There is one more Protech PT 2 in Hawkes Bay, which was being built by Greg McNicol at the time of his death. This one is an improved version, and the registration ZK-WMW has been reserved with the M in memory of Greg.
The Protech PT 2 was produced by Protech Aircraft Inc of Richmond, Texas and has been developed into the PT 2B and PT 2C with more powerful engines. It was constructed from a pre-welded steel tube fuselage and had folding aluminium wings. Its wingspan was 31 feet 9 inches (9.68 metres), and length was 18 feet 8 inches (5.68 metres). Empty weight is around 700 pounds (318 Kg) and MAUW was 1,500 pounds (680 Kg). On its original 65 HP engine cruise was 95 mph and the stall was a very low 30 mph.
There is one more Protech PT 2 in Hawkes Bay, which was being built by Greg McNicol at the time of his death. This one is an improved version, and the registration ZK-WMW has been reserved with the M in memory of Greg.
I put out an 'unexpected' and 'potentially embarrassing' grass fire underneath ZK-PTU shortly after Charlie had built her. In a move that could land me in a commodious tank of trouble these days, I rapidly extinguished the fire with some R22 refrigerant from my van parked nearby, before the plane was damaged. I was glad to have been able to help the gentleman concerned. And yes I think he was concerned!
ReplyDeleteI put out an 'unexpected' and 'potentially embarrassing' grass fire underneath ZK-PTU shortly after Charlie had built her. In a move that could land me in a commodious tank of trouble these days, I rapidly extinguished the fire with some R22 refrigerant from my van parked nearby, before the plane was damaged. I was glad to have been able to help the gentleman concerned. And yes I think he was concerned!
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