Photograph:
Falconar AMF-S14 Maranda ZK-JGR (c/n 1005-1) at Bridge Pa, NZ in 2014 (Keith Morris – NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
Canada
Description:
Two/three-seat homebuilt cabin monoplane
Power Plant:
One 134 kw (180 hp) Lycoming O-320 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.69 m (31 ft 8 in)
- Length: 6.7 m (22 ft)
- Height: 2.16 m (7 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 14.67 m² (158 sq ft)
- Max speed: 209 km/h (130 mph)
- Cruising speed: 185 km/h (115 mph)
- Stalling speed: 56 km/h (35 mph)
- Rate of climb: 396 m/min (1,300 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 5,182 m (17,000 ft)
- Range: 644 km (400 miles)
- Take-off run: 61 m (200 ft)
- Landing run: 55 m (180 ft)
- Fuel capacity: 197 litres (43 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 499 kg (1,100 lb)
- Payload weight: 199 kg (438 lb)
- Loaded weight: 839 kg (1,850 lb)
History:
The Falconar AMF-S14 Maranda was one of a series of homebuilt designs produced by Falconar Avia Ltd of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the Company’s designs including modern versions of the Mignet Flying Flee, variants developed from and similar to the Jodel D-11 series, and a scale P-51 Mustang. Available in kit form, or by way of plans only, the Maranda was of all-wood construction with fabric covering which could take a variety of engines from 112 kw (150 hp) to 149 kw (200 hp). It could be fitted with a tailwheel or retractable undercarriage.
First of the type in this region was c/n 1005-1 which became ZK-JGR, registered to its owner in Hastings, New Zealand in March 1996. This machine took four years to build and differed from most aircraft built at that time in having a modified 134 kw (180 hp) Nissan RD28 six-cylinder inverted 2.8 litre diesel engine which was turbocharged and intercooled, being the first diesel-powered homebuilt aircraft in New Zealand. However, the engine provided some problems to the owner and, after 60 hours flying, a forced landing was carried out due to turbocharger problems at Bridge Pa airfield, an attempted ground loop breaking the rear fuselage when contact was made with a fence.
The aircraft was rebuilt with a longer rear fuselage lengthened by 68.58 cm (27 in), this work being completed in 1999. At this time the diesel engine was replaced by a Continental O-300 engine, but this in turn in 2002 was replaced by a 186 kw (250 hp) Toyota Lexus [4 litre] FE V-8 engine with a reduction drive.
The aircraft was again damaged when it suffered a broken axle causing a ground loop at Loburn, NZ on 7 February 2005. These repairs involved a re-designed undercarriage with new axles.
It is known two Super Marandas have been under construction in New Zealand, one in Christchurch and one in Invercargill, the latter to be fitted with floats.