Victa R-2

R-2
The prototype Victa R-2 on display at the HARS Museum
Role Light aircraft
National origin Australia
Manufacturer Victa Ltd.
Designer Luigi Pellarini
First flight 15 February 1961
Status Prototype only
Number built 1

The Victa R-2 was a prototype Australian single-engine four-seat light aircraft built by Victa Ltd in the early 1960s. A single example was built, first flying in February 1961, but no production followed.

Design and development

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In September 1959, the Australian engineering company Victa Consolidated Industries, a major manufacturer of motor lawnmowers, established an aviation department. The first intended product was the Victa R-2, a four-seat single-engine light aircraft designed by Luigi Pellarini.[1][2][3] Pellarini's design was a low-winged, all metal tractor configuration monoplane with a T-tail, powered by a 180 hp (130 kW) Lycoming O-360 flat-four piston engine driving a constant-speed propeller. The prototype's wings were braced by struts, although production aircraft may have had fully cantilever wings. The wingtips and tail were raked to reduce drag. A retractable tricycle landing gear was fitted, although the production of versions with fixed landing gear was considered for operations in the bush.[2][4]

A prototype first flew on 15 February 1961,[4] by which time Victa had received several orders for the R-2.[5] Despite these orders, no production followed. Victa had committed to production of the two-seat Airtourer (which had been ordered in much larger numbers than the R-2[5]), and chose to develop a four-seater derivative of the Airtrainer, the Aircruiser, which was expected to be cheaper to build than the R-2, instead of continuing to develop the R-2.[6] Pellarini left Victa,[6] and later went on to design the Transavia PL-12 Airtruk agricultural biplane, although attempts by Pellarini to build a development of the R-2 as the Transavia PL-13 were unsuccessful.[7][8]

Specifications (Performance estimated)

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Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1961–62[4]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1 pilot
  • Capacity: 3 passengers
  • Length: 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m)
  • Wingspan: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
  • Height: 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m)
  • Wing area: 132 sq ft (12.3 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 7.7:1
  • Empty weight: 1,190 lb (540 kg)
  • Gross weight: 2,250 lb (1,021 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-360-A1A air-cooled flat four, 180 hp (130 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 183 mph (295 km/h, 159 kn) at sea level
  • Cruise speed: 174 mph (280 km/h, 151 kn) at 5,000 ft (1,500 m) (75% power)
  • Stall speed: 56 mph (90 km/h, 49 kn) (flaps down)
  • Range: 740 mi (1,190 km, 640 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 16,600 ft (5,100 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,160 ft/min (5.9 m/s)

References

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  1. ^ Taylor 1961, p. 11
  2. ^ a b Brogden Flight 12 August 1960, p. 234
  3. ^ Flight 27 January 1961, p. 134
  4. ^ a b c Taylor 1961, p. 12
  5. ^ a b Flight 4 November 1960, p. 689
  6. ^ a b Flight 4 May 1961, p. 591
  7. ^ Taylor 1966, pp. 8–9
  8. ^ Taylor 1967, p. 7
  • Brogden, Stanley (12 August 1960). "Australian Light Aircraft: Newcomers Enter the Club and Agricultural Markets". Flight. Vol. 78, no. 2683. pp. 234–235. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  • "Orders for Victa". Flight. Vol. 78, no. 2695. 4 November 1960. p. 689. Retrieved 23 November 2019.[dead link]
  • "Sport and Business". Flight. Vol. 79, no. 2707. 27 January 1961. p. 134. Retrieved 23 November 2019.[dead link]
  • "Sport and Business". Flight. Vol. 79, no. 2707. 4 May 1961. p. 591. Retrieved 23 November 2019. [dead link]
  • Taylor, John W. R. (1961). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1961–62. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.
  • Taylor, John W. R. (1966). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1966–67. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.
  • Taylor, John W. R. (1967). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1967–68. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.


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