Victa Airtourer 100
'>
Click on image for larger version
Australian Henry Millicer, Chief Aerodynamasist at the Government Aircraft Factory entered his design of a two seat training/touring light aircraft in Britain's Royal Aero Club's 1953 design competition for such an aircraft. Millicer's entry, the Millicer Air Tourer was successful in winning the competition.
A wooden prototype of the two seat, low wing monoplane with a fixed tricycle undercarriage was built powered by a 65hp Continental engine and first flew in 1959, and was demonstrated to the air training industry as a replacement for the Tiger Moth/Chipmunk/Auster training fleets of the day.
In 1960 the Victa motor mower company's Mervyn Richardson moved for an Aviation Division to be established to develop and manufacture Millicer's design into the Victa Airtourer. The first prototype of the all metal Victa Airtourer 100 flew on December 12 1961 powered by a 100hp Rolls Royce Continental 0-200, 4 cylinder air cooled engine. The first production machine flew in June 1962.
The aircraft gained immediate acceptance within the air training industry not only just because of the affordable purchase price and operating costs.
The first Victa Airtourer 115 flew in January 1963 powered by a 115hp Lycoming 0-235, 4 cylinder air cooled engine and from 1961 to 1966, 168 examples of the Victa 100 and Victa 115 were produced. At this time the US manufacturers of this type of aircraft adopted some dubious tactics and this prompted Victa's to appeal to the Australian Government for tariff protection on the importation of aircraft with similar characteristics as the Victa aircraft. This appeal was lost after a protracted hearing and as a result Victa aircraft production was closed down in Australia with 168 examples having been produced.
The Airtourer type certificate together with all design and manufacturing rights and tooling for the aircraft were sold to New Zealand's Aero Engine Services in 1967 who continued to build and sell the Airtourer 115 until 1973, as well as upgrading the airframe to accept the 150hp Lycoming 0-320, 4 cylinder air cooled engine.
The Museum’s Victa Airtourer 100, VH-BWI, spent its operational life with the Royal Aero Club of South Australia until it was acquired by the Museum in 1989.
It is currently on display at the Museum.
TECHNICAL DATA
Crew : 1 pilot + trainee or passenger.
Power plant : 1 x 100 hp Rolls Royce Continental 0-200, 4 cylinder air cooled engine.
Length : 21'06'' (6.55m) Wingspan : 25'00'' (7.92m) Height : 7'00'' (2.13m)
Weights : empty - 1,080lbs (490kg) maximum - 1,649lbs (748kg)
Speeds : maximum - 120kt (144mph) (230km/hr) cruise - 110kt (132mph) (200km/hr)
Maximum designed "G" factors : +6 -3.