Photograph:
Volmer Sportsman VH-TUB¹ (c/n V38) at Bowral, NSW in April 1979 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light sport amphibian
Power Plant:
One 97 kw (130 hp) Franklin Sport 4 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 11.12 m (36 ft 6 in)
- Length: 7.32 m (24 ft)
- Height: 2.44 m (8 ft)
- Wing area: 16.3 m² (175 sq ft)
- Max speed: 153 km/h (95 mph)
- Cruising speed: 129 km/h (87 mph)
- Stalling speed: 84 km/h (52 mph)
- Rate of climb at sea level: 183 m/min (600 ft/min)
- Ceiling: 3,960 m (13,000 ft)
- Range: 377 km (234 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 76 litres (16.6 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 490 kg (1,080 lb)
- Loaded weight: 680 kg (1,500 lb)
History:
The VJ-22 Sportsman two-seat amphibian was designed by Mr Volmer Jensen, and marketed by Volmer Aircraft of Burbank, California. The prototype was flown for the first time on 22 December 1958. The wooden-box fuselage was completely plywood covered, with the fin being integral with the hull. The main undercarriage retracted by swinging forward 90 degrees, and shock absorption was produced by means of a rubber bungee cord. The tailwheel incorporated a water rudder and could be retracted when not required. Hundreds of sets of plans were sold throughout the world and a small number of examples were built in Australia and New Zealand. Many built overseas were fitted with a 75 kw (100 hp) Continental O-200 engine.
The Sportsman was designed to be fitted with the wing from an Aeronca or Champion, which was readily available in the USA. However, as these wings were not available in this region, Mr Jensen was approached and prepared wing plans specifically for the VJ-22. Spruce was substituted for Klinki pine, and marine ply for mahogany. This resulted in a slightly heavier wing than originally planned.
The Sportsman VH-TUB¹ (c/n V38) was the first amphibian completed by an amateur builder in Australia, being built and first registered to the late Mr John Brown of Churchill, VIC in March 1979, this aircraft being fitted with a Franklin engine. Mr Brown was a pilot, builder and fabricator and carried out maintenance at the Latrobe Valley Aero Club and the Ultra Light Club of Australia. He was also involved with the construction of the second Corby Starlet completed in Australia. VH-TUB¹ crashed into the sea whilst taking off from Cape Naturaliste, Tasmania on 29 January 1994 and was destroyed.
Further examples have been completed, including another which took up the registration VH-TUB² (c/n N34) in December 1998. This aircraft was registered to its owner at Booragul, NSW. Another was completed and painted blue and silver with the registration VH-AQO. It was noted at Wedderburn, NSW in 2005 but was not flown as it was said it was overweight. It was later presented to the Australian Aviation Museum at Bankstown, NSW and placed on display. Following the closure of the museum it is believed to have been shipped to New Zealand to another museum in Wanaka with other aircraft. A further example became VH-DYP (c/n N13-1058) to its owner at Currumin Waters, QLD in 2020.
Examples of the VJ-22 registered in New Zealand include: ZK-EDB (c/n AACA/151-1) built by D Burgess of Invercargill and registered in October 1974. It has had a few owners over the years and was current in early 2015. ZK-CTY (c/n AACA/15/2) was partly built by P Dyer of Christchurch and was on-sold as a project. It was completed and registered on 12 July 1967. It had a number of owners but was cancelled from the civil register on 27 November 1996. It is known to have made a number of flights. ZK-FGL (c/n AACA/309) was built by G Fulcher of Timaru, was registered on 18 November 1983, was first flown on 2 June 1984, and was current in early 2015.