Country of origin:

New Zealand

Description:

Single or two-seat light sport aircraft

Power Plant:

One 48 kw (65 hp) Rotax 582 UL-2V two-cylinder, two-stroke, liquid-cooled engine

Specifications:

History:

The B-22 Bantam has been produced for some years now by Micro Aviation of Te Kowhai, NZ being developed as a conventional three-axis control ultralight, the prototype being flown by Keith Trillo in November 1983. Designed by John Smith and Max Clar, production of the B-10 amounted to 15 aircraft before it switched to the B-20, of which 17 were built before it was superceded by the two-seat B-22 model with dual controls. Initial production aircraft had the Rotax 503 engine but later models had the liquid-cooled 532, and later the 582 with twin-ignition. More than 400 examples have been completed.

Due to the interest in ultralight aircraft, the manufacturer looked at other engine types, and consideration was given to the 45 kw (60 hp) 1500-cc Skat, a twin-cylinder air-cooled unit; the three-cylinder Honda 808-cc unit which produced 39 kw (52 hp); and the 60 kw (80 hp) Jabiru 2200 four-stroke with which it has a max speed of 130 km/h (81 mph) and a rate of climb of 244 m/min (800 ft/min).

As development continued the wing was redesigned, with a wider chord and shorter span plus more ribs and a Clark Y aerofoil. Other refinements included the vertical stabiliser and rudder being made inter-changeable with the horizontal stabiliser. More than 400 examples have been completed. The type is usually fitted with a tricycle undercarriage but examples have been fitted with Lotus inflatable microlight floats from Canada, the first machine so converted being ZK-JAI (c/n 111). This aircraft went on to work for Earth Trust. The aircraft has dual controls, flaperons, a steerable nosewheel, 38 cm (15 in) wheels, hydraulic disc brakes and a 50 litre (11 Imp gal) fuel tank. One example became ZK-TIF (c/n 0148) in February 1999 and was described as a B-22 Bantaroo, later becoming ZK-JDR in May 2003.

The Bantam B-22J in 2003 was one of the best selling light aircraft in South Africa, with more than 50 examples delivered. On one occasion at a fly-in in South Africa 48 Bantams were in attendance. In that region it is used for coastal patrol work, whale watching, and by farmers for anti-poaching duties, checking fences, fire-breaks and water points. Two models were available, the B-22S receiving full New Zealand certification in 1995 with the Rotax 582 engine driving a three-blade composite propeller with a gear reduction, or the B-22J with a Jabiru 2200 engine driving a two-blade Jabiru propeller. One example (ZK-VOK) was completed as a Skyline Cruiser, this being a two-seater with an enclosed cockpit. Bantams have been used for stock mustering, aerial photography and surveying, reconnaissance and surveillance, etc.

The type has also been developed in South Africa by Micro Aviation South Africa for surveillance and other work. This is a slightly enlarged model and is fitted with a Jabiru 3300 engine of 80 kw (100 hp), with an increased all-up-weight of 540 kg (1,190 lb) being known as the BatHawk (dealt with separately). South African examples have also been fitted with floats and operated in the crop-spraying role; and another has been used for whale watching flights.

In 2011, after the demise of the owner of the Company which produced the type at Te Kowhai, Hamilton, the Croydon Aircraft Company at Mandeville obtained all manufacturing rights, jigs, components and spares and commenced the manufacture of new aircraft and spares at its facility. First aircraft completed at Mandeville was ZK-NLD (c/n 08-0323), a 2008 airframe and the last built, although after 2008 a further 31 Bantams and three Bathawks were manufactured and exported to South Africa.  Some 354 examples were built by Micro Aviation NZ during the production run of 28 years.

New production aircraft at Mandeville have been powered by the UL Power Aero Engines UL260i, a unit built in Belgium and producing 72 kw (97 hp) at 3,300 rpm. By late-2014 several airframes were nearing completion at the Croydon Aircraft facility.