ARV Super 2, who owns the product now?

[surely not]

I wonder if anyone on here knows who owns the ARV Super 2 design now?
Information from searches on the Internet stop in 2013/14 when the design was being sold on by Opus Aircraft in USA, but it seems possible that the auction fell through. They, Opus Aircraft, were looking forward to having a new production line open in 2015, but I cannot find any information to suggest this has happened. A pity really because the design is a good one, it just needed a decent engine such as those that have been re-engined with Rotax or Jabiru.

[xrayalpha]

Jabiru not a "decent engine" !

[Jan Olieslagers]

And why would one want "just another C42/Eurofox/Rans S6/..."? Or is there really something so very special to set this design apart from the mainstream? Pricing in sterling only, perhaps? :grin:

[Maoraigh1]

Was it certified?

[Chris Martyr]

@ surely-not.
I believe that ARV's are classified as "orphaned" now and are looked after under the excellent custodianship of the LAA's PtF system .
The chap I share my hangar with had one for years , it was a really nice little machine and his was powered by a Rotax 912 , although I'm sure a suitably engined Jabiru would have also been a good combination.
I haven't seen one with the original Hewland engine for years and assume that most of them have been re-engined .
Airframe-wise they were as solid as a rock .
When they came out , I think it was hoped that they could knock the C.152's crown off as a trainer . But I believe its Hewland 2-stroke was its Achilles' heel .

[VictorGolf]

Was it perhaps a victim of the old adage that you shouldn't put a "new" design of engine on a "new" design of airframe? The e-go is a more recent example although it could be argued that the engine it used wasn't new as it had been used in a drone application but not on an aircraft.

[Mike Flynn]

I remember having a PR trial flight with designer Richard Noble at Cardiff back in the 1980’s.

My quote from way back sums it up. Pretty much a copy of the Bolkow.

I flew in the original demo machine with Richard Noble. Nice aircraft, nice man, nice Daily Express logos...but I would never waste money on one.

[Genghis the Engineer]

I suspect it's still owned by Richard Noble. If he doesn't, he'll certainly know who does - he's still a big fan of his creation and I've heard him enthuse about it.

G

[Maoraigh1]

Rewording. I knew it's now an "orphan", but was it originally certified? That might make it easier for someone to get it in production, with a Rotax, as an EASA aircraft.

[Kemble Pitts]

ARV Super 2 did achieve Type Certification in the 1980s, long before EASA existed so the TC has 'grandfather' rights.

[CloudHound]

But I believe its Hewland 2-stroke was its Achilles' heel .
Their sales effort wasn't much help either!

It was a long time ago but Lancs Aero Club had set about looking to replace its fleet of C150's. I was on the Committee at the time though in a junior role. A/c in contention included the ARV plus the V tailed Robin ATL. For some reason TV News became interested and interviewed the Club Chairman who stated his interest in the ARV and mentioned a fleet order for 5 planes.

The following morning the phone in the tower rang a few times but not from ARV, Richard Noble or anyone else involved with the a/c.

[Capt Kremmen]

Crikey ! You had a narrow escape. Former operator of both HE and IG !

[Maoraigh1]

I remember going to Inverness Airport to view and possibly get a trial flight in the ARV2, which might replace the 2 C152s used for training. After a while a phone call came cancelling the event due to low cloud in the Borders. It was a beautiful day at Inverness, and the lack of planning didn't Impress us.

[chevvron]

I suspect it's still owned by Richard Noble. If he doesn't, he'll certainly know who does - he's still a big fan of his creation and I've heard him enthuse about it.

G
He kept one at Farnborough when Thrust 2 was being tested there, then suddenly it disappeared (about 2001).
(Don't think he 'got on' with the then airport director, a retired Air Commodore.)

[xrayalpha]

Funny old thing, a chap turned up last weekend for a trial flight he got as a birthday gift ....

And his summer job at university was in Hamilton, designing the engine mount for the Rotax 912 on the ARV!

Showed him an old mount for a C42 and he was thinking it was a lot simpler than what he had come up with :-)

(he went south and worked for Slingsby on the Firefly and then went offshore)

[Mickey Kaye]

Would the d-motor weigh in nicely?

[surely not]

Thanks for all the replies. It seems that the trail for the IP and TC holder is still cold.