Photograph:
Acro Sport II VH-FMK (c/n N68) at Cowra, NSW (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-seat light sport biplane
Power Plant:
One 75 kw (100 hp) Continental O-200 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan [upper]: 5.97 m (19 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan [lower]: 5.82 m (19 ft 1 in)
- Length: 5.33 m (17 ft 6 in)
- Height: 1.83 m (6 ft)
- Wing area: 10.73 m² (115.5 sq ft)
- Max speed: 245 km/h (152 mph)
- Max cruising speed: 209 km/h (130 mph)
- Max rate of climb: 1,067 m/min (3,500 ft/min)
- Max range: 482 km (300 miles)
- Empty weight: 332 kg (732 lb)
- Loaded weight: 612 kg (1,350 lb)
History:
The Acro Sport was designed by the late Mr Paul Poberezny, President of the Experimental Aircraft Association of America, specifically for construction by persons with no experience in building aircraft. The prototype, powered by a 134 kw (180 hp) Lycoming engine, flew for the first time on 11 January 1972 and immediately demonstrated good flying characteristics. It has since proved, like the similar-looking Pitts Special, to be a popular sport aircraft with full aerobatic capability. The aircraft has quite often been known as the EAA Biplane.
Braced wings of wooden construction were fabric covered, with fibreglass wingtips. The fuselage was constructed of welded steel tube with wooden stringers, fabric covered. A development of the design later appeared, known as the Super Acro Sport, which was similar but was fitted with a 149 kw (200 hp) engine.
The first Acro Sport built in Australia was VH-FMK (c/n N68), registered in September 1979. Others have been completed including VH-ZSF (c/n N169), VH-KNV (c/n V110), VH-MTD (c/n Q065), and VH-XXI which later became 19-7537 under RAA Regulations.
The first of the type in New Zealand was ZK-VWT (c/n AACA635), which later became ZK-FLY. Further New Zealand registered examples include ZK-MWM (c/n AACA/14/2), ZK-SFD (c/n AACA/486), and ZK-CAW (c/n SP1447).