Photograph:
Andrews A-1 ZK-BLU (c/n 1) at Omaka, Blenheim, New Zealand in April 1992 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
New Zealand
Description:
Single-seat low-wing cabin monoplane
Power Plant:
One 48 kw (65 hp) Continental A-65 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 7.3 m (24 ft)
- Length: 5.8 m (19 ft)
- Height: 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in)
- Wing area: 10.7 m² (115.5 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 164 km/h (102 mph)
- Cruising speed: 145 km/h (90 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 213.4 m/min (700 ft/min)
- Range: 435 km (270 miles)
- Empty weight: 317 kg (700 lb)
- Loaded weight: 408 kg (900 lb)
History:
The Andrews A-1 has been considered to be the pioneer of post-war amateur-constructed aircraft in New Zealand, being built to Certificate of Airworthiness standard during the 1950s by C G Andrews of Wellington, who was then an aeronautical engineer employed by the New Zealand Civil Aviation Department. Registered ZK-BLU, the A-1 first flew on 2 January 1957. It remained largely inactive until 1973 when it was restored by the builder and sold. The aircraft has remained airworthy since then.
Construction consisted of various materials: the wing had two spruce spars with plywood and fabric covering; the fuselage was made of welded steel tube with light wooden formers and fabric covering; the cockpit was enclosed by a rearward-sliding perspex and steel-tube canopy; and the steel-tube undercarriage was hinged fore and aft, with shock absorption being provided by rubber rings mounted on a telescopic tension member. Dunlop mechanical brakes were fitted.
The Andrews A-1, ZK-BLU (c/n 1), which was built as a half-scale flying test aircraft for a proposed agricultural aircraft, was the only example of the type to be constructed.