Photograph:
Nesmith Cougar ZK-CNA² (c/n RD1) at Blenheim, NZ in 2015 (NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat sporting monoplane
Power Plant:
One 63 kw (85 hp) Continental C-85 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 6.24 m (20 ft 6 in)
- Length: 5.73 m (18 ft 9 in)
- Height: 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 7.66 m² (82.5 sq ft)
- Max speed: 314 km/h (195 mph)
- Cruising speed: 217 km/h (135 mph)
- Stalling speed: 85 km/h (53 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 305 m/min (1,000 ft/min)
- Take-off distance: 244 m (800 ft)
- Landing distance: 213 m (700 ft)
- Service ceiling: 4,877 m (16,000 ft)
- Range: 966 km (600 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 113 litres (25 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 283 kg (624 lb)
- Loaded weight: 567 kg (1,250 lb)
History:
The Cougar I was designed by Robert Nesmith in 1957 and is similar in configuration to the Wittman Tailwind, the designer being of the view the latter type could ‘stand a little improvement”. It has been available in kit form from Acro Sport Inc of Hales Corner, Wisconsin for many years. Main differences were engines in the 81 kw (108 hp) to 86 kw (115 hp) range being fitted, particularly the Lycoming O-235, no flaps, and some changes in overall dimensions. The wing was the same and had the same NCAC 4309 aerofoil. Some constructors added flaps to the aircraft and others made changes to the vertical tail shape, undercarriage, and cowling design. The fuselage was of metal tube construction with fabric covering and sheet metal to the front of the fuselage. The wing was of wood construction and was fabric covered. A folding wing option was also available.
Many kits have been sold around the world and in the 1960s it was one of the most popular homebuilts in the United States. Seating was for two side-by-side in an enclosed cabin. Power plant was usually the continental C-85 but other engines in the 48 kw (65 hp) to 93 kw (125 hp) range may be fitted, Continental C-75, C-85 and C90 units being the most common.
At least one kit was imported to New Zealand in the 1990s by Mr Rodney Davis of Blenheim. This aircraft became ZK-CNA² (c/n RD1) to Mr Davis and was registered on 22 November 2011 as a Class 2 Microlight. Mr Davis had been an agricultural pilot and used the registration ZK-CNA which had previously been applied to a Piper PA-25 Pawnee. It was first flown on 24 July 2013.