Country of origin:

Belgium

Description:

Two-seat primary training biplane

Power Plant:

One 104 kw (140 hp) de Havilland Gipsy Major 10-1 four-cylinder in-line air-cooled engine with an inverted fuel system

Specifications:

History:

The Stampe series of tandem two-seat primary training biplanes was designed by Count Stampe in Belgium, and manufactured by the Stampe-et-Vertongen concern in Belgium.  The prototype was flown for the first time in 1933.  Powered by a 90 kw (120 hp) de Havilland Gipsy III four-cylinder in-line engine, this model was later succeeded on the production line by the 97 kw (130 hp) de Havilland Gipsy Major-engined SV-4B.  However, production ceased with the advent of World War II.

In 1947 production of the Model SV-4B was resumed at the Renard facility of the Societe Stampe with some 65 examples being built for the Belgian Air Force.  Production was also undertaken in France by the SNCA de Nord concern, primarily for French flying clubs.  The French-built variant was known as the Model SV-4C and had the 104 kw (140 hp) Renault 4 Pei four-cylinder in-line engine.  Postwar Belgian Air Force versions differed from French-built aircraft by having enclosed cockpit canopies.

A number of examples of the Stampe have been imported to Australia: one SV-4A and three SV-4Bs.  The first, VH-WEF (c/n 1040), was built by Atelier Industriel de L’Air at Maison Blanche, Algiers in 1947 as an SV-4C with the Renault 4 Pei engine, and was flown by the French Air Force at Casablanca.  Subsequently it was sold and registered in France as F-BBGN, later operating in the United Kingdom as G-AVCO with the Tiger Club. After an accident, it was rebuilt as an SV-4B with a Gipsy Major engine.  It was first registered in Australia in November 1976.

Others registered include VH-BVU (c/n 163 – ex G-AXYS, F-BBPF), seen regularly at aviation events on the east coast, flown by the late Richard ‘Dick’ M Nell, and based at Goulburn, NSW for many years.  Following the death of Mr Nell the aircraft was sold.  An ex-Danish SV-4A OY-DSW became VH-NBS (c/n 278 – ex OY-DSW, G-AXMC (NTU), F-BBHA); VH-LFO (c/n 699299 – ex N9184R); and SV-4B VH-EWF (c/n 49 – ex N43CK, N652CV, F-BBAD, 49 French Air Force) registered to its owner in May 2014.  In May 2015 this aircraft became VH-TJR³. Further examples include an SV-4B, which was registered as VH-BZH (c/n 306) on 3 July 2017; and VH-SGV² (c/n 633- ex C-FXME, F.BDMC) registered on 21 December 2017.

A few Stampes have been based in New Zealand. These include: SV-4C ZK-SVC (c/n 1133 – ex F-BALL) at Hastings; SV-4C N147W (c/n 219 – ex F-BFZS, N62447) at Pokeno; SV-4C ZK-BEW (c/n 84771 ex T6397, G-ANGJ) restored at Hastings; N255V (c/n 200-53) stored awaiting restoration at Masterton; and N10702, an SV-4C based at Masterton.  A further example became ZK-BBV² (c/n 199 – ex F-BBVM) in mid-2015, this being an SV-4A fitted with a Renault 4-P05 engine, being registered to its owner at Helensville.  In May 2018 it was exported to the United Kingdom where it became G-JJGI.

In Belgium Ultralight Concept Aviation has commenced building a full-scale replica of the SV-4C to meet ultralight regulations, known as the SV4-RS.  Designed by Raoul Severin, the incomplete prototype was shown at Aero Friedrichshafen in Germany in 2015 and in 2016 the not yet flown but complete prototype was shown.  First flight was made at Bullingen airfield on 28 December 2016 and since then more than 50 kits have been supplied to builders.  The aircraft has an empty weight of 297.5 kg (656 lb) and a loaded weight of 472.5 kg (1,042 lb).