Victa Airtourer 115
That one would have been owned by Captain Doug Stott, when he was flying the Irish Concorde to Narbalek for Pelair/Wings. He still owned a Victa when he was president of the Darwin Aero Club.
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Airtourer, AirTrainer
I'm a pretty low houred PPL but have managed to get ratings on a couple of models ( 150 and CT4/E ) and have found them to be good ships. I did all my initial training on C152s so it took a bit of getting used to the "fly it down to the ground - no float" approach required for those machines. (Jack Sprat - I also did my AT150 rating with JP in ZK-DBD when he was at Waikato )
The CT4/E was a blast. Having your own stick right in front of you changed the nature of the beast. Plus the shove in the back from the 300hp donk was fan-frickin-tastic (fair bit of rudder trim required though). The Red Checkers might complain about the "lack of power" in the E, but to a club pilot like me trained in aeros in a C152A, it was heaven! Got charged $250 hour (1994 prices) for it though so cross country wasn't a big part of my CT4/E experience...
The CT4/E was a blast. Having your own stick right in front of you changed the nature of the beast. Plus the shove in the back from the 300hp donk was fan-frickin-tastic (fair bit of rudder trim required though). The Red Checkers might complain about the "lack of power" in the E, but to a club pilot like me trained in aeros in a C152A, it was heaven! Got charged $250 hour (1994 prices) for it though so cross country wasn't a big part of my CT4/E experience...
Stationair 8 Doug and his wife Sue still own that a/c VH-CTE complete with a Twin Commanche engine (160hp). Have not heard from him since last Xmas but I think he is still in CNS. PS. Tinpis did you find the master switch in that thing or did you have to ask somebody. If I remember the PA22 had it under the seat. Almost Airbus thinking. (very strange).
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About that time I did get re-aquainted with a PA22 108
Took two burly mates on a fishing weekend to Snake Bay
It went surprisingly well.
Another good little trainer.
Took two burly mates on a fishing weekend to Snake Bay
It went surprisingly well.
Another good little trainer.
Silly Old Git
By George, me is well versed in Cubs,Colts and Pie Chasers from the olden days
I think Mr Piper put the electric in them rather reluctantly
Been a good nostalgia thread this one started by Mr UTW.I wonder what he thinking about Victas now....
...and...how much will you have to pay for a good one ?
I think Mr Piper put the electric in them rather reluctantly
Been a good nostalgia thread this one started by Mr UTW.I wonder what he thinking about Victas now....
...and...how much will you have to pay for a good one ?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: beautiful one day...............
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Thanks everyone for all the thoughts info and nostalgia!
I have great memories of flying in VH-MTG at Launceston around 1967 (about 10 years old!) I think it crashed at Bridport in 1973.
All I need to do now is find a good one and convince the treasurer. Which will be the hardest I wonder?
I have great memories of flying in VH-MTG at Launceston around 1967 (about 10 years old!) I think it crashed at Bridport in 1973.
All I need to do now is find a good one and convince the treasurer. Which will be the hardest I wonder?
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Sydney (sometimes)
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If there is ever a testiment to the strength of an airtourer, it's VH-AMX here at camden. The thing gets put through it's paces pretty often overhead YSCN doin Aero's, for some pretty long sessions sometimes. Its a 160hp T6 i think, and they throw it through everything, multiple loops, flicks, spins, everything. Looks great in an avalanche, or a stall turn.
She looks a bit rough, seen better days, but keeps on truckin. I reckon if these guys can't break it, no one will!!!
Have to agree on the CT4E though, it's the best of the breed. I got a few hours in ZK-PAC courtesy of ronnie RAAF, and it was a real weapon!!! With 300 ponies and a big 3 blader she really hauled you through the loops.
She looks a bit rough, seen better days, but keeps on truckin. I reckon if these guys can't break it, no one will!!!
Have to agree on the CT4E though, it's the best of the breed. I got a few hours in ZK-PAC courtesy of ronnie RAAF, and it was a real weapon!!! With 300 ponies and a big 3 blader she really hauled you through the loops.
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Sale, Australia
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Wonderful little aircraft. We had a 100 horsepower version brand spanking new off the production line. Operated from farmers paddocks complete with wheat stubble and 2,000 foot dirt strips in South Aust summer with no problems. Loved the additional fuel and 10 knot higher cruise over the C150 I also flew. Stepped from the Victa to a T-28 with 1,425 horsepower and other than the ROC not much to choose (ego aside).
Silly Old Git
Found this
Anyone know what happen?
POST SCRIPT: I have recently discovered some new information regarding the Victa Aircruiser 210. David Pyett of AirAg at Bankstown Airport has recently purchased the intellectual property rights and, I believe, the jigs to the Victa Aircruiser. He plans to reintroduce it into production within the next 18 months at their new Illawarra Regional Airport facility. They plan to engine the aircraft with a diesel which should make it very economical and compete very well against the new Cessnas and Pipers. Informal discussions have take place with Aero V. Australia (my employer) as to possible sub-contracting of component manufacture. This would mean that this author of still-born aircraft may have a hand in the resurrection of one.
Anthony Coleiro
Anyone know what happen?
POST SCRIPT: I have recently discovered some new information regarding the Victa Aircruiser 210. David Pyett of AirAg at Bankstown Airport has recently purchased the intellectual property rights and, I believe, the jigs to the Victa Aircruiser. He plans to reintroduce it into production within the next 18 months at their new Illawarra Regional Airport facility. They plan to engine the aircraft with a diesel which should make it very economical and compete very well against the new Cessnas and Pipers. Informal discussions have take place with Aero V. Australia (my employer) as to possible sub-contracting of component manufacture. This would mean that this author of still-born aircraft may have a hand in the resurrection of one.
Anthony Coleiro
What was a Victa 115 Airtourer worth brand new?
While going through my file I was reminded of the CT4C with a turboprop. Very nice. I recall seeing 2,000 ft/min right up to 10,000 ft. We weren't pulling much more power than the current production one with a 300 hp Lycoming. Rudder was a bit small to handle all the power available at low speed. (I've always said that the rudder on the Airtourer is too small)
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Ahhh. yessss.. the old Airtourer... only climbed because the earth was round...
Opening the canopy on a short field landing is just about effective as having spoilers...
And who can forget the 120 kt to 3 mile final-slow-down-and-still-pull-a-short field-landing procedure....
Opening the canopy on a short field landing is just about effective as having spoilers...
And who can forget the 120 kt to 3 mile final-slow-down-and-still-pull-a-short field-landing procedure....
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Anyone here care to share some tips for aeros in the Airtourer 150 (fixed prop)?
I just started the other day with the basics first. Still trying to work out some of the speeds as the POH seems to be based around the 115, and I've been told a bit faster generally works better.
Also, are there any secrets with doing a loop? Guy I was flying with (Aeros Instructor) hadn't flown one in quite a while and found that about 60 degrees nose up it started to buffet. Entry speed was 130, tried a bit faster. Too much back stick maybe?
Keen for some pointers on this great little aircraft.
Ozzi
I just started the other day with the basics first. Still trying to work out some of the speeds as the POH seems to be based around the 115, and I've been told a bit faster generally works better.
Also, are there any secrets with doing a loop? Guy I was flying with (Aeros Instructor) hadn't flown one in quite a while and found that about 60 degrees nose up it started to buffet. Entry speed was 130, tried a bit faster. Too much back stick maybe?
Keen for some pointers on this great little aircraft.
Ozzi
From what I remember, 135 is a good entry speed, but those stubby wee wings get quite draggy if the AoA is increased too rapidly, so I'd guess, yeah, too much back stick. If you have a g meter, smoothly increase it to no more than 3 entering the loop, and give it the jandal to keep the tach redlined as the speed starts to drop (if it's not floored already. Depends on the prop.)
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Hey djpil,
Thanks for the offer mate, but I'm one of those poor souls who works over the weekend. Be happy to hear any suggestions or advice.
Tarq57
Yeh, we tried at 135 initially then increased to about 145. I did get the impression that it might have been too much pull. Shame the aircraft doesn't have a G meter. Be a good way to get consistency.
Just had a thought, any chance it could be a CoG or weight issue? Two largish guys we were right on the max weight for aeros. I have found the Tourer to be pretty touchy when it comes to that.
Cheers
Thanks for the offer mate, but I'm one of those poor souls who works over the weekend. Be happy to hear any suggestions or advice.
Tarq57
Yeh, we tried at 135 initially then increased to about 145. I did get the impression that it might have been too much pull. Shame the aircraft doesn't have a G meter. Be a good way to get consistency.
Just had a thought, any chance it could be a CoG or weight issue? Two largish guys we were right on the max weight for aeros. I have found the Tourer to be pretty touchy when it comes to that.
Cheers
Been a looong time since I've done this in anything, and longer still for an Airtourer, but I vaguely remember the speed somewhere south of 60 over the top at zero G. Try a less savage pull on entry, increasing gently until the vertical, and progressively relax to weightless near the top.
Doubt it's CoG, you're sitting real close to that point.
Did a loop from S&L in a standard 152 as part of my aero rating; experienced exactly the same thing you described. 'Twas coz I was too eager to try and get it past the vertical before it ran out of oomph and thus had pulled too aggressively on the entry. (Incidentally, at the top of that one, there was virtually no margin between inverted stall buffet and positive stall buffet. The speed was almost zero. Very small elevator movement required.)
Doubt it's CoG, you're sitting real close to that point.
Did a loop from S&L in a standard 152 as part of my aero rating; experienced exactly the same thing you described. 'Twas coz I was too eager to try and get it past the vertical before it ran out of oomph and thus had pulled too aggressively on the entry. (Incidentally, at the top of that one, there was virtually no margin between inverted stall buffet and positive stall buffet. The speed was almost zero. Very small elevator movement required.)
Sorry, nothing to add to what others have said here. Needs a fine touch on the stick in looping figures. Been ages since I've flown one with 150 hp and F/P prop - recent flying in a 115 and a 160 hp C/S prop.
140 is enough for an avalanche loop but I don't always get them to turn out neat at that speed too.
If you're really desperate try an aerobatic autopilot.
140 is enough for an avalanche loop but I don't always get them to turn out neat at that speed too.
If you're really desperate try an aerobatic autopilot.