Photograph:
Aerosport Woody Pusher ZK-DUA (c/n AACA/172) at Taupo, NZ in 1982 (Keith Morris – NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light sport parasol-wing aircraft
Power Plant:
One 56 kw (75 hp) Continental A-75 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.84 m (29 ft)
- Length: 6.22 m (20 ft 5 in)
- Height: 2.13 m (7 ft)
- Wing area: 12.07 m² (130 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 158 km/h (98 mph)
- Cruising speed: 140 km/h (87 mph)
- Stalling speed: 72 km/h (45 mph)
- Max rate of climb at sea level: 183 m/min (600 ft/min)
- Ceiling: 3,658 m (12,000 ft)
- Range: 306 km (190 miles)
- Endurance with max fuel: 2 ½ hours
- Fuel capacity: 45 litres (10 Imp gals)
- Take-off run: 91 m (300 ft)
- Landing run: 122 m (400 ft)
- Empty weight: 285 kg (630 lb)
- Loaded weight: 522 kg (1,150 lb)
History:
Seating two persons in tandem in open cockpits, the Woody Pusher had a parasol wing and was a light aircraft aimed at the homebuilt market for sport use. Construction was of braced wooden wings with a metal leading-edge and fabric covering overall. The fuselage was a welded steel-tube structure with fabric covering. The tail unit was braced and the undercarriage was non-retractable. The engine was installed in the pusher configuration.
Designed with the amateur builder in mind, the prototype Woody Pusher’s fuselage was wood with plywood covering, and then with fabric covering overall. Subsequently the designer, Mr Harris L Woods, decided to re-design the fuselage and undercarriage. The type was marketed by Aerosport Inc of Holly Springs, North Carolina, USA. The prototype first flew with a 48 kw (65 hp) Lycoming engine but was later re-engined. Provision was made for engines in the 48 kw (65 hp) to 63 kw (85 hp) range to be installed.
At least one Woody Pusher has been built in New Zealand, being built by Alan Belworthy and completed as ZK-DUA (c/n AACA/172) in November 1974. It was involved in an accident on 27 January 1980. It was restored, was powered by a Continental A-75 four-cylinder engine, and in later years has been operated from an airstrip at Cust.