Photograph:
Proell O.1 VH-DSG (c/n 01) on its roll out in June 2009 (Courtesy of the Gould Family)
Country of origin:
Australia
Description:
Two-seat light sporting monoplane
Power Plant:
One 60 kw (80 hp) Jabiru 2200 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Max cruising speed: 204 km/h (127 mph)
- Loaded weight: 600 kg (1,323 lb)
History:
The Proell O.1 was built by Proell Pty Ltd of Mannering Park, NSW and was placed on the Australian Civil Aircraft Register as VH-DSG (c/n 01) on 25 September 2000. It is a two-seat all composite light home-built aircraft with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage fitted with a 60 kw (80 hp) Jabiru 2200 engine driving a wooden fixed pitch propeller. Max take-off weight is 600 kg (1,323 lb). It was registered in the experimental category and the intention of the designer / builder was to provide simple moulded components to enable a relatively inexperienced person to build the aircraft.
The aircraft, also known as the Sportair DG.1, was a fully moulded fibreglass type kit plane with 164 individual moulded components. It was first rolled out on 29 June 2009. It had a proposed cruising speed of 185 to 204 km/h (115 to 127 mph) using less than 20 litres (4.4 Imp gals) of fuel per hour. The fuselage was a sub-kit built upside down on a table with bulkheads inserted and secured in place. The two belly mouldings were then installed. The fuselage was turned over and checked for twist, then temporarily fastened to the bench for stability as a work platform. The foredeck and turtle deck were then fitted, the stabiliser mounted, aligned and drilled. The rudder and elevator were both bonded on to the fuselage.
In early 2015 the aircraft was offered on the market for sale by the Gould Family by tender, the successful tenderer to pick up the aircraft from a property at Cessnock, NSW. At some stage is was undergoing testing at Cessnock aerodrome. Inspection on site was by appointment only and the closing date for tender submissions was 31 January 2014. In August 2016 ownership was changed to Keith McGeachie of Cooranbong, NSW, at which time it was fitted with a Revmaster 2100D engine driving a wooden fixed pitch propeller.