Photograph:
Air Cam VH-VIZ (c/n 110) at the Australian International Airshow at Avalon, VIC (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat twin-engine light aircraft
Power Plant:
Two 48 kw (64 hp) Rotax 582 two-cylinder, two-stroke liquid-cooled engines
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 11.07 m (36 ft 4 in)
- Length: 8.23 m (27 ft)
- Height: 2.54 m (8 ft 4 in)
- Wing area: 18.85 m² (203 sq ft)
- Max speed: 161 km/h (100 mph)
- Cruising speed: 129 km/h (80 mph)
- Stalling speed, flaps down: 63 km/h (39 mph)
- Rate of climb: 610 m/min (2,000 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 5,4854 m (18,000 ft)
- Range at 106 km/h (70 mph): 547 km (340 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 106 litres (23.3 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 472 kg (1,040 lb)
- Loaded weight: 762 kg (1,680 lb)
History:
Of similar configuration to the Maxair Drifter, the Air Cam was a two-seat, open-cockpit, light twin-engine aircraft intended for aerial photography which had utility applications, and which was marketed by Leza-Lockwood Corp of Sebring, Florida. Being twin-engined, and of light construction, it had a good STOL performance, having proved it can fly and climb on one engine. Each engine had its own separate fuel and electric system and, although most aircraft built had the 48 kw (64 hp) Rotax 582 engine, the more powerful Rotax 912 and 914 engines could also be installed, these providing a much enhanced performance. Floats could be fitted, and an enclosed cockpit structure was available as an option.
Available in kit form, the Air Cam was originally designed and constructed for use as an aerial camera platform for the National Geographic Society and was so successful in this role, being able to operate from rugged fields and small bush clearings, that the design was made available to amateur builders in kit form. One development of the series was the Enforcer ‘special mission’ aircraft, powered by two Rotax 914 engines and equipped with dual searchlights, armoured crew seats, moving-map GPS, and handheld FLIR, said to operate at one-tenth of the operating cost of a helicopter.
First of the series registered in Australia was c/n 110, which became VH-VIZ to Living Pictures (Australia) of Seaforth, NSW, in October 2000, this aircraft being imported and assembled in order to assess its suitability as an airborne camera platform for producing IMAX movies. By 2017 it was operated by William H Morgan Pty Ltd of Cairns, QLD.
A further example arrived in 2011, becoming VH-OMZ (c/n 90 – ex N2MZ) on 23 August 2011. In 2017 this latter aircraft was fitted with amphibious floats and the colour scheme was changed from the American flag scheme it was painted in when shown at the Australian International Air show at Avalon, VIC to an overall white scheme. It commenced operations on Australia’s east coast, taking up residence at Camden, NSW.
In New Zealand an example was registered as ZK-SUN (c/n AC073 – ex N417AC) in Auckland in November 2007, and has been owned and operated by Cyril Wright of Auckland.