Photograph:
Flitzer Sportplane VH-SFF (c/n 001) at Serpentine, WA (David Eyre – WA Aviation)
Country of origin:
United Kingdom
Description:
Single-seat sport biplane
Power Plant:
One 48 kw (65 hp) (1,834 cc) Volkswagen conversion four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 5.48 m (18 ft)
- Length: 4.54 m (14 ft 8 in)
- Wing area: 9.01 m² (97 sq ft)
- Max speed: 169 km/h (105 mph)
- Cruising speed: 150 km/h (93 mph)
- Stalling speed, power off: 68 km/h (42 mph)
- Rate of climb: 229 m/min (750 ft/min)
- Range: 407 km (253 miles)
- Take-off run: 122 m (400 ft)
- Landing run: 122 m (400 ft)
- Fuel capacity: 39 litres (8.5 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 177 kg (390 lb)
- Loaded weight: 340 kg (750 lb)
History:
The Flitzer Z.1 Sportplane was conceived and designed by Lynn Williams as a light, simple, sport biplane designed to look like the Staaken Z.1 Flitzer German parasite fighter aircraft which was built to operate from airships in World War I. Originally intended to have light two-cylinder engines, it was decided to fit a 1,834 cc Volkswagen conversion. However, the prototype (D692) when first flown had a 1,600 cc variant of the engine installed. It was first exhibited at the Private Flying Association Rally at Wroughton in the United Kingdom in 1991. Since then a number of examples have been completed in the United Kingdom.
Construction was of wood with fabric covering and it was said to have good handling qualities and climb rate.
Bell Aeromarine was granted rights to build and market kits and one of the first to be supplied was a modified variant for an Australian purchaser, this being slightly larger and having two seats. Known as the Z.2, it had a 5.79 m (19 ft) wingspan and a 60 kw (80 hp) variant of the VW engine, and a splayed cabane with the addition of a centre-section to the upper and lower wings. Production versions were known as the Z.21A, having a larger tailplane and a wider fuselage.
A variant built specifically for aerobatics was known as the Z.1-S Stummelflitzer. The Z.1-M Meteor was a light, slightly smaller variant intended to be fitted with a two-cylinder engine such as the Mosler or DAF. In 2004 a variant was designed to look similar to the Polikarpov I-5 fighter and the prototype known as the SK.26 Skorostniye Krylo, or Samolet Kombinat, ie Speedwing or Aeroplane Combine 26, had a larger Volkswagen conversion, increased chord and altered spar position, an independent upper wing centre-section to reduce spar-loading, drag-compensating ailerons in the upper wings, and elliptical wingtips. Later it was decided to install the Australian-built 82 kw (110 hp) Rotec R2800 radial engine.
A Z.21A Flitzer has been built in New Zealand by Max Saunders. ZK-FZR (c/n Z-067) was completed in April 2011 with a Great Plains 2.2 litre modified Volkswagen engine, and ZK-FTZ (c/n 092) was registered to its owner at Havelock North in May 2013.
The first of the type registered in Australia, a Z.21A, became VH-SFF (c/n 001) to its owner at Kemscott, WA in January 2007.