Photograph:
Cvjetkovic CA-65 VH-MES (c/n 54) at Mangalore, VIC in April 1983 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light touring monoplane
Power Plant:
One 93 kw (125 hp) Lycoming O-290-G four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 7.62 m (25 ft)
- Length: 5.79 m (19 ft)
- Height: 2.24 m (7 ft 4 in)
- Wing area: 10.03 m² (108 sq ft)
- Max speed: 257 km/h (160 mph)
- Cruising speed: 217 km/h (135 mph)
- Max rate of climb at sea level: 305 m/min (1,000 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 4,575 m (15,000 ft)
- Range with max fuel: 804 km (500 miles)
- Empty weight: 408 kg (900 lb)
- Loaded weight: 680 kg (1,500 lb)
History:
Mr Anton Cvjetkovic, a Yugoslav emigrant to the United States, began work in May 1960 on the design of a series of light aircraft, the first of which became known as the CA-61. The CA-61 was in fact a development of one of his earlier designs of the 1950s known as the CA-51, and the prototype flew for the first time in August 1962. Subsequently plans were marketed for the type in both single and two-seat variants, and it became known as the CA-61 Mini Ace. It could be fitted with engines ranging in power from 48 kw (65 hp) to 63 kw (85 hp). In 1973 a new model appeared, the CA-61R, which could be constructed with a retractable undercarriage.
In September 1963 Mr Cvjetkovic commenced design work on a new aircraft known as the CA-65 Skyfly, a two-seater with a retractable undercarriage and a more powerful engine. Construction of the prototype began in March 1964. Completed in 1965, it was flown for the first time in July of that year. The CA-65 was of all-wood construction, plywood covered except for the ailerons, elevator and rudder which were fabric covered. In 1967 a folding-wing variant was introduced. Later the CA-65A of all-metal construction and with swept vertical tail surfaces appeared. Designed for +9G and –6G limits, engines up to 112 kw (150 hp) could be installed. Maximum speed of the variant with this engine was 280 km/h (174 mph).
A small number of examples of the type have been built in this region, the first being VH-MES (c/n N54) completed in 1968, this being a CA-65, the first in New Zealand being ZK-FNY (c/n AACA/712), also a CA-65, registered on 23 April 1987. Further examples have been completed, including VH-HTR (c/n 01) on 7 October 2011.