Photograph:
Robin R3000-160 ZK-TZV (c/n 163) at Ardmore, New Zealand (Peter Lewis – NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
France
Description:
Two / four-seat light touring and training monoplane
Power Plant:
One 135 kw (180 hp) Lycoming O-320-D2A four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.81 m (32 ft 2 in)
- Length: 7.51 m (24 ft 8 in)
- Height: 2.66 m (8 ft 9 in)
- Wing area: 14.5 m² (155.8 sq ft)
- Max speed: 270 km/h (168 mph)
- Max cruising speed: 255 km/h (158 mph)
- Economical cruising speed at 65% power: 238 km/h (148 mph)
- Service ceiling: 4,572 m (15,000 ft)
- Range with standard fuel at 75% power and no reserves: 1,490 km (926 miles)
- Range at 65% power: 1,610 km (1,000 miles)
- Empty weight: 650 kg (1,433 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1150 kg (2,535 lb)
History:
In 1978 Centre Est continued its design and development of the old Jodel series and produced a new series of touring aircraft known as the R3000, these being all-metal touring and training aircraft and differing from the earlier designs in having a T-tail. Two prototypes, known as the R3140, were built, the first flying on 8 December 1980, this machine having constant chord wings, the second aircraft flying on 2 June 1981 with a non-cranked wing similar to a Jodel and with upturned wingtips. This ended up as the definitive wing for the series. The first production batch was the R3120 which was a three-seater, or could carry two adults and two small children, having an 88 kw (118 hp) Avco Lycoming O-235 engine.
The next model was the R3140E with a 104 kw (140 hp) Avco Lycoming O-320-D2A engine with a clear overall canopy, which was intended for the market for a relatively inexpensive four-seat touring aircraft. Further models were planned with 112 kw (150 hp), 119 kw (160 hp) and 134 kw (180 hp) engines, models with a retractable undercarriage, and a model for glider towing, but these failed to materialise. One was fitted with a modified Peugeot-Renault-Volvo motor vehicle engine and was flown in August 1983. This model was certificated to FAR Pt 23 requirements and production of this model commenced in 1986.
As indicated, a number of variants of the series was proposed initially but when production commenced only two basic models were produced, the R3000-100 and the R3000-160, the latter differing in having a 134 kw (180 hp) Textron Lycoming O-320-D2A engine. Production of the R3000 series continued for some time. In 1981 Aerospatiale became responsible for marketing the series whilst Robin concentrated on lower powered models, plans for the higher powered models being shelved as they would have competed against the Socata series of light aircraft.
Variants in the series available in recent years have been the R3000-100 with the 87 kw (116 hp) Lycoming O-235 engine; the R3120 seating three; R3000-120 or R3120; the R3000-140 with a 105 kw (140 hp) engine; and the R3000-180R with a 135 kw (180 hp) engine for glider towing.
First of the series registered in this region was ZK-TZV, a Model R3000-160 (c/n 163), imported by the Australasian distributor Izard Pacific Aviation of Springhill Airfield, NZ.