Photograph:
Avid Aircraft Amphibian VH-FIB (c/n N227) at Bankstown, NSW in December 1998 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two/three-seat light sport amphibian
Power Plant:
One 48 kw (65 hp) Rotax 582 two-cylinder, two-stroke, liquid-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.97 m (36 ft)
- Length: 5.91 m (19 ft 4 in)
- Height: 1.75 m ( 5 ft 7½ in)
- Wing area: 13.9 m² (150 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 129 km/h (80 mph)
- Cruising speed: 121 km/h (75 mph)
- Rate of climb at sea level: 274 m/min (900 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 3,581 m (11,750 ft)
- Stalling speed: 53 m/h (33 mph)
- Range: 547 km (340 miles)
- Empty weight: 254 kg (560 lb)
- Loaded weight: 544 kg (1,200 lb)
History:
The Avid Aircraft Catalina, also known as the Avid Amphibian, was designed by Dean Wilson and was aimed at the small amphibian market, for owners interested in flying and fishing. The Catalina was first introduced at the Experimental Aircraft Association event at Oshkosh in Wisconsin, USA in 1985, making its first take-off on water from Lake Winnebago, at this time the aircraft being fitted with a 32 kw (43 hp) Cuyana engine. Subsequently the 48 kw (65 hp) Rotax 582 unit was installed.
The Catalina was advertised as “fly to your favourite fishing spot, raise the canopy, drop the anchor and you are fishing. Taxi right up on the beach and enjoy a picnic lunch. Then its back in the water for more fishing and finally the flight home. No Sunday traffic, and its fun making the trip”.
The control system was almost identical to the Avid Flyer, including the wing folding geometry. Fuel capacity was 66 litres (14.5 Imp gals). The Catalina could be built as a landplane only, as an amphibian, or as a flying boat with no wheels fitted.
Examples registered in this area have included ZK-NGU (c/n 556) in New Zealand, and VH-FIB³ (c/n N227) in Australia, this registration not being taken up.It is believed the airframe was eventually to be registered with RAA but instead has been retired and placed in storage at Wilton, NSW. At least one other has been completed under AUF / RAA Regulations, being 19-3077 (c/n A109) registered on 22 December 1998 but the registration expired on 30 August 2007.