Photograph:
Rainbow Skyreach Bushcat 19-1172(c/n CH-194C) at Narromine, NSW in October 2017 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
South Africa
Description:
Two-seat light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 60 kw (80 hp) Rotax 912 UL four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-and-liquid-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)
- Length: 5.64 m (18 ft 6 in)
- Height: 1.92 m (6 ft 3 in)
- Max speed: 169 km/h (105 mph)
- Cruising speed: 153 km/h (95 mph)
- Stalling speed clean: 64 km/h (40 mph)
- Never exceed speed: 201 km/h (125 mph)
- Rate of climb: 305 m/min (1,000 ft/min)
- Fuel capacity: 94 litres (20.6 imp gals)
- G limits: +6 / -4 g
- Range: 1,078 km (670 miles)
- Take-off roll: 144 m (472 ft)
- Landing roll: 81 m (266 ft)
- Fuel capacity: 93 litres (20 imp gals)
- Empty weight: 280 kg (617 lb)
- Useful load: 285 kg (628 lb)
- Luggage capacity: 37 kg (81 lb)
- Loaded weight: 565 kg (1,234 lb)
History:
The BushCat is a two-seat side-by-side strut-braced high-wing monoplane designed to meet US LSA regulations and was developed from the Company’s earlier design, the Rainbow Aircraft Cheetah XLS. Designed for bush operations the aircraft has a new undercarriage comprising an aluminium single spring leg, hydraulic brakes and a new throttle control. Construction of the aircraft is of aluminium tube with fabric covering and can be powered by a range of engines, most ranging in power from 48 kw to 75 kw (65 hp to 100 hp) including variants of the Rotax range and the Jabiru 2200 series.
Although throttles are provided for each pilot, a single stick is provided, the flaps being operated by a bar mounted in the ceiling. The prototype was first flown in 2012 and more than 30 examples had been delivered to customers in the United States by mid-2014. It can be fitted with a tailwheel or tricycle undercarriage, and can be fitted with floats or skis. It can be built also to meet SLSA, ELSA and EAB standards.
First example of the type seen in this part of the world became ZK-ZBR (c/n CH149B) imported to New Zealand and registered to BushCat Aviation NZ Ltd of Ngaruawahia on 11 August 2014, being followed by ZK-PAW (c/n CH151B) registered to its owner at Thames in March 2015, ZK-ZOZ (c/n CH.148B) and ZK-ZOL (c/n CH205C) to Bushcat Aviation NZ of Taupiri on 23 January 2019, ZK-ZIP² (c/n CH238C) and ZK-ZKM (c/n CH234C).
First example in Australia was 19-1172 registered under RAA regulations and shown for the first time at Airventure Australia at Narromine, NSW in October 2017.