Photograph:
Stits SA-6B Flut-R-Bugs VH-ULB (c/n S9902/V2) and VH-ULA (c/n 122/V16) at Morwell, VIC in April 1972 (the late Michael Madden)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 56 kw (75 hp) Continental C-75 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 7.85 m (25 ft 8 in)
- Length: 5.66 m (18 ft 7 in)
- Height: 1.83 m (6 ft)
- Wing area: 11.61 m² (125 sq ft)
- Max speed: 169 km/h (105 mph)
- Cruising speed: 145 km/h (90 mph)
- Stalling speed: 77 km/h (48 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 183 m/min (600 ft/min)
- Range: 402 km (250 miles)
- Empty weight: 295 kg (650 lb)
- Loaded weight: 513 kg (1,130 lb)
History:
The Stits SA-5A of early 1955 was the first of the Flut-R-Bug series, this being a single-engine single-seat sporting aircraft designed around a converted Volkswagen four-cylinder powerplant. However, this engine did not become available at the time it was required and a 48 kw (65 hp) Lycoming was substituted. Interest in this design subsequently led to the design of the Model SA-5BG, this incorporating the features of the SA-5A with minor changes to the design of the airframe, wing-area, tail surfaces, and fuselage length. Eventually the fuselage was re-designed to incorporate a second seat, and this model became known as the SA-6A.
Construction was conventional. The fuselage and tail were chrome molybdenum tubing with fabric covering, and the wings were spruce spar with plywood rib structure, also fabric covered. A tricycle fixed undercarriage was fitted with a steerable nosewheel, the powerplant at that time being the 48 kw (65 hp) Continental four-cylinder unit.
Preliminary flight tests revealed a couple of minor shortcomings which led to a few minor adjustments being made, including a larger tail, the wing moved aft slightly, a larger canopy, and a higher turtle-back decking on the rear fuselage. With dual controls, this model became known as the SA-6B and was the model offered in kit form.
Two kits were imported to Australia by South Australian company, Hamilton Industries, and these were completed as VH-ULA and VH-ULB². VH-ULA (c/n 122/V16) was the first post-war ultralight to receive a Certificate of Airworthiness (in March 1958) after some 200 man-hours of assembly, and was fitted with a 48 kw (65 hp) Continental engine. VH-ULB (c/n S9902/V2) was completed and flew in October 1959, being registered on 12 November that year, this machine being a refined variant powered by a 71 kw (95 hp) converted Porsche engine. The latter engine was to be used in production aircraft. The refined variant was to become known as the prototype for an Australian manufactured model known as the Hamilton Jackeroo, but production plans did not eventuate and only these two aircraft were completed.
In the 1980s it is believed two standard SA-6B models were imported fr0m the United States to, and construction commenced in, New Zealand. Another example was reported to be under construction at Western Plains, NSW in 2013. However, as far as is known none of these have been completed. Eventually on 7 October 2010 VH-ULA (c/n 6) fitted with a Continental C-85-12F engine was transferred to the RAA register and became 19-7633. VH-ULB, after being damaged at Aldinga, SA, became 28-3193 on 10 July 1999.