Photograph:
Roloff Breezy VH-BLO (c/n 002) at Wedderburn, NSW in November 2004 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Three-seat parasol wing sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 67 kw (90 hp) Continental C90-8F-P four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.06 m (33 ft)
- Length: 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in)
- Height: 2.59 m (8 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 15.3 m² (165 sq ft)
- Max speed: 161 km/h (100 mph)
- Cruising speed at 70% power: 121 km/h (75 mph)
- Stalling speed: 45 km/h (28 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 152 m/min (500 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 4,575 m (15,000 ft)
- Range with max fuel: 402 km (250 miles)
- Take-off run: 137 m (450 ft)
- Landing run: 91 m (300 ft)
- Empty weight: 317 kg (698 lb)
- Useful load: 227 kg (500 lb)
- Loaded weight: 544 kg (1,200 lb)
History:
The prototype of the Breezy RLU-1, which is described as a vintage style, was flown for the first time on 7 August 1964 in the United States. Designed by three professional pilots as a cheap, easy to build sporting aircraft using modern construction methods, radio and hydraulic brakes, the Breezy has proved quite popular with examples being built in the United States, Canada, South Africa and Australia. The Breezy – “Breezy” perhaps being an apt name for an aircraft of this configuration – with an open cockpit and two-seats in tandem, the pilot in front and two passengers on a bench to the rear – got the model name RLU-1 from the initials of the three designers, Messrs Roloff, Liposky and Unger.
Fitted with a parasol wing, various engines in the 67 kw (90 hp) to 112 kw (150 hp) range can be fitted, and examples have been completed with the 67 kw (90 hp) Continental C90-8F-P, the Lycoming C-290-G, and the 108 kw (145 hp) Continental O-300-D. Construction is of welded steel tube fuselage structure without covering, the tail unit being of braced steel tube with fabric covering. To save time and cost, usually the wing from a production type is used. Wings from Piper PA-22 and Cessna 172 have been used. In recent years the type has been marketed by Carl Unger of Oaklawn, Illinois. The original prototype is held by the EAA AirVenture Museum at Oshkosh in Wisconsin.
A small number have been built in this region, usually registered under AUF Regulations. The first to be registered was VH-AQE (c/n N137) on 2 September 1994, followed by VH-LJU (c/n N167) in April 1995, which was transferred to the AUF Register as 28-0906 (c/n N167) and has been based at Lismore, NSW. VH-BLO (c/n 002) was registered in November 2003. Construction of a couple of others was commenced, including VH-BRZ built by Mr D Martin of Yackandandah, VIC; and VH-CSY by Mr P Cooper of Toorak, VIC.