Life for the airtourer started with a 1953 design by henry millicer, chief aerodynamicist of the australian government aircraft factory gaf, in response to a competition sponsored by the royal aero club britain for a new light aircraft. Vhkgr is an original victa built airtourer and never saw military service. Both victa and transavia corporation requested subsidies for australian designed and built light aircraft, with victa seeking a subsidy of up to 60% of the factory cost. Model of 1960s victa airtourer 100 vhmtc maas collection. The victa 100 was a development of a design largely by the aeronautical engineer, henry millicer 19151996. This aircraft zkcow even though it is in a horrid state, it gives you an extensive look at the cross section of the australian and.
The airtourer 100 was the first airtourer imported into britain so theres a little bit of history there. Victa is an australian manufacturer of outdoor garden equipment, including petrol and electric lawn mowers, edgers, trimmers, and chainsaws. Following the sale of the design rights of the airtourer to aero engine services limited aesl of new zealand the rights to the aircruiser were also sold to aesl in 1969. The victa aircruiser was designed by dr henry millicer, who had earlier designed the two seat victa airtourer described separately, the most popular light aircraft designed and built in australia. Ride on mowers and zero turn mowers are specially designed to help you comfortably and easily mow your acreage faster. David, encyclopedia of the worlds commercial and private aircraft, crescent books, new york ny 1981. Some of the airtourer log books are still scattered around new zealand somewhere so andrew gormlie ceo of classic flyers is asking for help from anyone who knows these aircraft or can assist in tracking down their log books, possibly in workshops in which they have been. The victa airtourer is an allmetal light lowwing monoplane touring aircraft that was developed in australia, and was manufactured in both australia and new zealand design and development. Vhbwi victa airtourer 100 australian national aviation museum melbourne moorabbin mbw ymmb, australia vic derek heley 18032012.
The wooden model stirred the enthusiasm of victa an organization more known for its lawnmowers, who in 1960 chose to economically plan and produce the airtourer arrangement in australia. The victa airtourer is a capable all metal aircraft perfect for cross country cruising, but should the mood strike you, is also capable of a full aerobatic display. Victa airtourer 115 vhmva cn 1 photographed at bendigo vic in december 1965. Listing of airtourers by national registration mark order, manufacture serial number msn with country of registration, last known or present registration mark, engine size hp, year built and any previous known registrations. Thanks cogwheel, id forgotten that story of the springs.
The association exists in part to preserve the airtourer and encourage the ongoing use of these australian designed aircraft. As an aircraft with no shortage of style or cool the victa airtourer won. To help support this aim a buyers and sellers guide has been produced to. Henry millicer defeated 103 other contestants in a design competition held by the. The pic is purely to show what an airtourer looks like not what condition the fuselage is in now. I see the odd comment about some negative feedback but i. The aesl airtourer is an allmetal light lowwing monoplane touring aircraft developed in australia and manufactured in new zealand.
The millicer airtourer was the original wooden one, vhfmm. A wooden prototype, the henry millicer designed airtourer was constructed by a small group of enthusiasts in the melbourne suburb of. With airtourer production in full swing in the early 1960s victa commissioned dr millicer to develop a four seat light aircraft based on. Light aircraft, victa airtourer project for sale, for sale. Victa airtourer models were just based on engine size. Victa airtourer 100 vhcfe cn 18 qam, queensland air. The information and opinion gathered in this guide came as a result of both research of the real aircraft, comparisons with the specifications provided by the developers, and personal opinion over several hours of usage. Please fill in the form below to get in contact with the seller. The airtourer was the winning design, submitted by henry millicer, the chief aerodynamicist of australias government aircraft factories, in a competition organised by britains royal aero. Victa consolidated industries became interested and an all metal airtourer vhmva was flown in december 1961 and, following type certification in july 1962 the first australian light aircraft design to be so approved, was put into production as the all metal airtourer 100 and t2.
Prior to flying to the training area, the pilot was conducting a number of touch and go circuits. Just a note here to all the regulators including that abomination easa, inspite of 50 years of rewriting and fluffing around with aviation law by pillocksand the attendant regulations, the airtourer stills flies exactly the same way as it was designed, tested and. Qam has first refusal on purchase of airtourer should mr volkers decide to dispose of it. Following a policy of supporting local industry, dca purchased victa 115 airtourer vhcap cn 59. Victa airtourers and aircruiser wings over new zealand. The victa airtourer was an important indigenous australian light aircraft, designed by.
Home aircraft manuals sz victa airtourer these manuals are supplied in adobe pdf format, and delivered via digital download, processed within 2448 hours. This aircraft is owned now by the museum of victoria and it is reported to be on display at the navy museum at nowra. Click on the image to download the story of the air tourer, dca. The aircraft was registered new to dca in their block on 9 april 1964. Electric blade engagement for ease of use and extended belt life as the cutter belt is in constant tension. History one airtourer 115 obtained secondhand in fiji and delivered in 1986. Victa airtourer aircraft history and specification. The victa airtourer is an allmetal light lowwing monoplane touring aircraft that was developed in australia, and was manufactured in both australia and new. Vhgbs victa airtourer 100 private northam yntm, australia wa trevor bartlett 15081994. The cockpit of the victa airtourer has been faithfully reproduced, with a complete set of gauges, avionics and 3d lighting. This is a model of the victa twoseat airtourer 100 vhmtc, an all metal, lowwing touring monoplane made in australia by a firm more well known for their lawnmowers than aircraft, victa limited. This is the victa airtourer listing page, here you can download the plan, article and see the main thumbnail and extra images. This production list was compiled from a variety of sources. Victa ceased production in 1966, and the aircraft rights for the airtourer and the aircruiser were sold to aero engine services ltd aesl of new zealand.
The airtourer association buyers and sellers guide. The airtourer teaches one how to manage the 4 forces and to fly it properly. Henry millicer, of the australian government aircraft factory gaf, and was the winning entrant in a british royal aero club sponsored light aircraft design competition. Victa applied to the australian government for protection against this tactic, but in early 1967 after a much delayed tariff board hearing, victa closed down production. Victa airtourer 100 vhmfo cn 2 shows the shorter nose design of the lower powered model. There are a fun little thing to fly, but no way i would. The airtourer group then formed in australia to build a 65 hp continental powered wooden prototype, which first flew in march 1959. The victa airtourer is an allmetal light lowwing monoplane touring aircraft that was developed. This aircraft was later reengined and was the first airtourer 115 around. Hi all im considering buying the this little aircraft but i am struggling to find any feedback from the community.
Stunning pilots aerologic boeing 777f ultimate cockpit movie to lej airclips full flight series duration. However, victa remains most well known for the victa lawn mower. As the australian government had rejected victa s appeals for tariff protection assistance, or for direct subsidies to keep the production lines open, the company chose to suspend production of the airtourer in february 1966, by which time it had built 172 airtourers. If you would prefer a particular manual to be supplied as a paper copy, please contact us for a quotation. On the morning of 15 august 2003, the pilot hired a victa ltd airtourer, registered vhmvp, to practice basic aerobatics. Victas first all metal prototype of the airtourer first flew on december 12 1961, powered by a 70kw 95hp engine. Aesl airtourer academic dictionaries and encyclopedias. The aircraft was produced as the victa 110 and victa 115 with 100 and 115hp engines, and as the super airtourer with a 150hp lycoming o320 powerplant. A few years after it had passed from his ownership, it was acquired by the department of defenceraaf museum who owned.
Both the airtourer and airtrainer are visually very similar and, quite unsurprisingly, share a common ancestry. This 1965 victa airtourer 100 vhmfo cn 2 has had an unusual association with the raaf having been owned at one time by sqnldr jeff trappett while he was posted to the central flying school at raaf east sale. Transferred to gary volkers in exchange for fairey gannet xa331 plus one set of vampire wings and various sabre components. Victa airtourer, pictures, technical data, history. It was the winning design in a competition organised by australias royal aero club in the early 1950s.
The victa airtourer was an important indigenous australian light aircraft, designed by henry millicer in the late 1950s and manufactured in australia during the 1960s. Onestop aviation information includes airport location, runway information, radio navigation aids, communication frequencies, nearby hotels, maps, aircraft registration database, airport photo and airplane photo gallery. Victa aesl airtourer specifications technical data. The airtourers design features allmetal constuction, fixed tricycle landing gear, interconnected ailerons and flaps, and sidebyside seating with the pilot and co. Just a bit of history but the air tourers where built and bankstown airport west of sydney the designer work for gaf for 10 year in victoria before moving to sydney where the victa lawn mower company took to the aviation market and produced the aircraft commercially. Interest was shown in the design by mervyn victor richardson, chairman of victa ltd who at the time had some aviation manufacturing interests. Victa is an iconic australian brand with a history spanning more than 65 years, from humble beginnings in a concord nsw backyard, the business has expanded to become a global exporter of lawncare products. Colin hunter photos at the victa airtourer is a singleengine twoseat touring aircraft produced by the australian manufacturer victa and from 1967 onwards by the new zealand aesl aero engine services ltd. The airtourer was an immediate success, so much so that the u. This aircraft was later reengined and was the first airtourer 115 around 1963.
The aesl airtourer is an all metal light low wing monoplane touring aircraft developed in australia and manufactured in new zealand. Victas first all metal model of the airtourer first flew on december 12 1961, controlled by a 70kw 95hp motor. An old victa at the wanaka national transport and toy museum. Victa airtourer 100 australian national aviation museum. In fact no victas did, only those built in new zealand.
Victa airtourers restoration project wings over new. It left the factory on delivery on 27 july 1964 and was handed over to dca on 24 august. The popular airtourer was designed by australian dr henry millicer. There is no text information for this aircraft at the moment.
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