Photograph:
Morrison Six N83W (c/n 001) visiting Lakeland, Florida, USA in April 2005 (Derek Heley)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Six-seat utility aircraft
Power Plant:
One 298 kw (400 hp) Textron Lycoming IO-720-A1B eight-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.92 m (35 ft 10 in)
- Length: 9.12 m (29 ft 11 in)
- Height: 2.18 m (7 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 16.17 m² (174 sq ft)
- Max speed [Vne]: 399 km/h (248 mph)
- Max cruising speed: 331 km/h (205 mph)
- Stalling speed, flaps up: 115 km/h (71 mph)
- Stalling speed, flaps down: 73 km/h (45 mph)
- Max rate of climb at sea level: 273 m/min (900 ft)
- Service ceiling: 5,940 m (19,500 ft)
- Take-off run: 274 m (900 ft)
- Landing run: 229 m (750 ft)
- Range at 75% power, standard fuel: 1,448 km (900 miles)
- Range with optional fuel: 2,253 km (1,400 miles)
- Endurance: 6 hours
- Fuel capacity: 526 litres (116 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 997 kg (2,197 lb)
- Baggage capacity: 91 kg (200 lb)
- Max loaded weight: 2,041 kg (4,500 lb)
History:
The Morrison Six was designed in the United States by James L Barr of Barr Aircraft in Montoursville, Pennsylvania. The prototype (N83W – c/n 001) was registered on 16 January 2003 and was described at various times as a Barr 6 or Barr Six. It was flown for the first time on 4 November 2003 and had accumulated 210 hours of testing by August 2005. In appearance it is very similar to a Cessna 207.
However, in October of that year the designer decided to retire and not continue with development of the aircraft. The design and rights to it were offered for sale. The rights to the design were obtained by Morrison Aircraft of Nambour, QLD, which company announced production would commence in Australia in mid-2008. The assets were obtained by Steven Morrison of Morrison Aircraft on 15 November 2006 and the parts, jigs and equipment were shipped to Australia, arriving in January 2007. However, the prototype remained with its former owner in the United States.
On 1 August 2005 the prototype, described at that time as a Barr Barr Six, was destroyed by fire when it was taxiing to its parking area. It had just landed at Starke County Airport near Knox, Indiana, after flying from Wittman Regional Airport at Oshkosh, Wisconsin presumably after attending the EAA event that year.
The aircraft was constructed of a mixture of composites including 7781 E-glass pre-pregnated with 36% to 38% epoxy resin and structural graphite rods. The wing employed a NACA 2412 aerofoil and had an area of 16.2 m² (174 sq ft). The wing was fitted with large flaps. Method of construction was sandwich components throughout. Nomex honeycomb cores +were vacuum bagged and cured.
Some development of the design took place in Australia and it was reported to have been placed in production in kit form. Power plant was the 298 kw (400 hp) at 2,650 rpm Textron Lycoming IO-720-A1B eight-cylinder engine driving a Hartzell three-blade constant speed propeller. Accommodation was provided for a pilot and up to five passengers. The aircraft could be fitted with a tricycle or tailwheel undercarriage, and could be fitted with Edo 4930 floats or skis. It was announced a quick-build kit would also be made available. By early 2021 it is not believed any further examples had been completed.