Photograph:
Avions Pierre Robin R-2160 VH-SXY (c/n C19) at Bankstown, NSW (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
France
Description:
Two-seat light touring and aerobatic monoplane
Power Plant:
One 119 kw (160 hp) Lycoming O-320-D2A four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.3 m (27 ft 3 in)
- Length: 7 m (23 ft 4 in)
- Height: 2.1 m (7 ft)
- Wing area: 13 m² (140 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 261 km/h (162 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power: 246 km/h (153 mph)
- Stalling speed full flaps: 85 km/h (53 mph)
- Service ceiling: 3,810 m (12,500 ft)
- Range at 65% power: 806 km (501 miles)
- Empty weight: 549 kg (1,210 lb)
- Loaded weight: 798 kg (1,760 lb)
History:
In 1957 Centre Est Aeronautique was formed in France to design and manufacture a series of light aircraft for touring and training purposes. The company changed its name to Avions Pierre Robin in 1969. Since then a number of designs have been produced, varying in size and power plant installed, including the Robin DR-400 series, the HR-100 Robin 1180 series, the Robin HR-200 / R-2000 series, and the 3000 series.
In later years a subsidiary was established at Lachute Airport, Quebec, Canada, to assemble and market a number of the Company’s range, including the R-1180 Aiglon, R-2112 Alpha, and the R-2160 Alpha Sport. The aircraft were initially assembled from French-built sub-assemblies and components, such as the American-built engines, propellers, tyres, instruments and radios, being added on the Canadian production line. In 1984 an Australian company, the PACT Aviation Group, bought a controlling interest in Avions Pierre Robin Inc of Canada.
First of the series seen in this region was VH-SXY (c/n C196 – ex C-CGNF), a Model R-2160, fitted with a 194 kw (260 hp) Lycoming engine, which was imported by the Australian and South Pacific Distributors, Paxford Pty Ltd, arriving at Bankstown, NSW in 1981. At about this time it was announced in the press that the Robin ATL and Model R-2160 series would be manufactured under licence in Australia for the local market by Paxford Aviation. The first Australian-built aircraft was to be completed in 1986, and 26 were to be delivered during the initial year. However, none was produced.
Since then further examples have been registered, including VH-XXY (c/n C198); VH-SXY; VH-SXZ (c/n C197) which was destroyed in an accident near Camden, NSW on 14 May 1986; VH -NRK (c/n C187); VH-LXY (c/n C207) exported to Malaysia in 1995 as 9M-JFA; and VH-OXX (c/n C211). Operators have included the Sydney Aerobatic School.
A number have been registered in New Zealand over the years, being operated by the Canterbury Aero Club at Christchurch and CTC Aviation at Hamilton. These have include: ZK-RBN (c/n 359); ZK-TZD (c/n 358); ZK-TZF (c/n 360); and ZK-TZM (c/n 372). In later times the series became very popular in New Zealand, the Model R-2160 (also known as the 2160) being used for a time by the Massey University School of Aviation. A further example was imported to New Zealand in 2006, becoming ZK-TXG (c/n 145 – ex F-GAXG).
Further aircraft in the series have included VH-ZXI, an R2160-160A (c/n 160A-0017 ex VH-SXY) registered on 18 July 2008; VH-ZXY² a similar model (c/n 160A-07009) registered 24 May 2007; and two R-2160i VH-ISN² (c/n 324 – ex HS-TFC, HS-TPB) registered on 28 February 2012 and VH-IRN³ (c/n 323 – ex HS-TPA) registered on 16 February 2018.
Of all-metal construction, the R-2160 was fitted with an oil recuperation system allowing inverted flight for up to 20 seconds. With design limits of +6G and -3G, the aircraft is permitted to perform all basic aerobatic manoeuvres, including loops, rolls, flick rolls, stall turns, Cuban eights, and rolls off the top.