Country of origin:

Australia

Description:

Two-seat light sport. monoplane

Power Plant:

One 90 kw (120 hp) Jabiru 3300 six-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine

Specifications:

History:

An aircraft known as the Brumby was designed and developed by Aero Composite of Bankstown, NSW, in conjunction with Spectrum Technology Pty Ltd, as a high-performance sport monoplane. Originally conceived in the 1980s to be supplied as a kit-type aircraft, the object was to produce the basic aircraft as a series of components to be assembled and completed by the amateur builder.

Modern manufacturing techniques were used and two engines were proposed to be installed, an 82 kw (110 hp) unit or alternatively a 134 kw (180 hp) unit, the basic variant to be fitted with the lower-powered engine, this model to have a fixed undercarriage, fixed-pitch propeller and a larger wingspan. The model with the 134 kw (180 hp) engine was designed to have a retractable undercarriage, a variable pitch propeller and, at a cruising speed of 378 km/h (235 mph), a range of 1,753 km (1,089 miles). In the long term the Company proposed to develop a high-performance type with possible military applications; and a low-cost training sailplane. This aircraft is not known to hav e been built.

Development of a new aircraft, also known as the Brumby, has proceeded. In 2004 a new design appeared, this being a two-seat low-wing all-metal monoplane fitted with a 93 kw (125 hp) Jabiru 3300 six-cylinder engine, the first prototype aircraft being allotted the registration VH-BEX (c/n 004) on 23 August 2004 to the manufacturers, Brumby Aircraft, of Tomerong, NSW. This aircraft was a development of the Goair GT-1 Trainer designed in the 1990s by Philip Goard and Mark Redford of Goair Productions at Bankstown. NSW. The new Brumby was a two-seat, all-metal, low-wing light aircraft of conventional design with docile stall characteristics fitted with an 86 kw (115 hp) Lycoming O-233 engine driving a two-blade fixed-pitch propeller.

Production aircraft had full dual controls with sticks and toe brakes, electric flaps, a steerable nosewheel, elevator trim via a centre wheel, and a basic VFR panel but could be fitted with a full panel if required. A forward sliding canopy was fitted on the prototype and early production aircraft but some later aircraft had a gull-wing canopy available.

Advertising indicated the new aircraft, known as the Brumby LSA, would be built at Cowra, NSW by Brumby Aircraft Australia, and was an all-metal low-wing two-seat monoplane fitted with a tricycle or tailwheel undercarriage. It was aimed at the training market and had full dual controls. An initial pre-production batch of five aircraft was completed, the first two being flown to and demonstrated at NATFLY 2006 at Narromine, NSW. It became available with the Jabiru 2200 or 3300 engines, engines from the Rotax series such as the 912, or the Corvair as an option, and could be registered under RAA guidelines or under experimental registration. It was placed in production and was available in kit form, or as a complete aircraft, being manufactured by P G Aviation Pty Ltd which traded as Brumby Aircraft Australia.

The second example of the type built was registered under RAA rules as 19-4462 (c/n 6), was slightly larger than the prototype and was completed more to production standards. Production continued, with VH-EJC (c/n 015) being registered on 24 October 2007. By late 2007 the first production batch of ten aircraft had been sold.

In 2009 the ompany stated it was developing a tail-wheel variant, the prototype of this model being shown at the 2009 Recreational Aviation Australia meeting at Narromine in incomplete form. It also released details of a variant known as the Brumby LSA 610 High Wing which used the same rear and front fuselage sections of the low-wing tricycle undercarriage variant with a new wing. At this time the Company was offering the 75 kw (100 hp) Teledyne Continental O-200 engine series in its aircraft range. It ws available as a kit aircraft and RAA, registered in the 19- series with a max take-off weight of 544 kg (1,199 lb); or as an ultralight with a max take-off weight of 600 kg (1,323 lb), or as an LSA registered in the 24- series. Eventually for factory-built aircraft only the 73 kw (98 hp) Rotax 912 or the 86 kw (116  hp) Lycoming O-233 engine was offered.

In July 2014 Brumby Aircraft Australia signed a joint venture agreement with the Chinese civilian and military aircraft manufacturer AVIC (the Aviation Industry Corporation of China), to manufacture Brumby-designed aircraft in China for sale into the Chinese and world markets. It was announced that sub-assemblies for the Brumby series would be built from late 2015 in China, the aircraft for the Australian and New Zealand markets to be shipped to Australia as components where they would be assembled, fitted with engines, have their cabin furnished, have radio installed, and have the aircraft painted and delivered to the customer. The Company announced it would be transferring its operations to develop a new variant of the Victa Aircruiser.