Photograph:
Whittaker MWS-6 Fatboy ZK-MWS (c/n GS1) (NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
United Kingdom
Description:
Two-seat light sporting aircraft
Power Plant:
One 37 kw (50 hp) Rotax 503UL-2V two-cylinder, two-stroke, fan-cooled engine with electronic dual ignition
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.98 m (32 ft 7 in)
- Wing area: 15.24 m² (164 sq ft)
- Max speed: 148 km/h (92 mph)
- Cruising speed: 102 km/h (63 mph)
- Stalling speed: 56 km/h (35 mph)
- Rate of climb: 150 m/min (492 ft/min)
- Empty weight: 190 kg (419 lb)
- Loaded weight: 390 kg (860 lb)
History:
The Fatboy was one of a series of ultra-light aircraft designed in the United Kingdom by Michael Whittaker, this being the first two seat side-by-side design produced by his company, with more than 200 sets of plans being sold by 2010. It was similar in concept and technology to his previous design, the MW5 Sorcerer. The original MW6T was known as the Merlin and this model seated two in tandem, but was developed to the MW6S Fatboy. It was certified in the United Kingdom by the LAA.
First of the type completed in this region became ZK-MWS (c/n GS1), this being built by Grant Sandiford of North Shore City in New Zealand, he having previously built other light aircraft types. ZK-MWS was powered by a 48 kw (65 hp) AeroTwin AT972T two-cylinder, four-stroke, in-line 972 cc engine and was fitted with a Powerfin Model F 1.67m (5 ft 5 in) three-blade propeller and a BRS 1050VLS ballistic parachute. It was withdrawn from service in June 2016.