WASSMER
 

Greetings

Has anyone ever heard of this type before. There are several of them on the market.

Does anyone have experience, knowledge or opinions about them.

Thanks in advance...................ZZ

The type is Wassmer 54..

I have been checked out in a Wassmer WA52, same as the 54 just with 160hp compared the 54's 180. Unfortunately, I haven't managed to follow up the checkout. However, impressions are:

* French: Somebody called them the Plastique Fantastique. All glass fibre monocock construction. Looks very slippery and modern.
* Delightful and very light handling, rather like an AA5
* Quirky: No toe brakes, just a hand brake so no differential braking.
* Super visibility, rather like an AA5
* Fairly nippy. About 116-118kts IAS crusie.
* Constant speed prop.
* Fixed gear.
* Restrictive CofA CofG limitations, so any more than three adults is effectively verboten as is three adults + baggage. Maybe the 54 isn't so affected with a heavier engine?
* Due to CofA, centre fuel tank is also out of bounds.
* The 52 is fitted with a strange vacum 3 axis autopilot. Predictibly spends most of its time U/S.

More info here:
http://www.pophamflyinggroup.bizland.com/wassmer.html

Thanks for the info.....Good link

we have one at Spanhoe, not sure which model exactly, odd looking thing but the group that own seem to like it and they fly 4 up on trips.

No problem ZoomZoom.

BoseX,

Its a Baladou. Don't know much about them, completely different design I think - part fabric.

Often wondered about these my self. I have been offered one or two recently, all fairly low time, with std 0320 engines. But I think one had retract gear.

Always made me think there was something wrong to be selling them so much less than say a AA5,PA28 or C172 of same age and hours. ?

Are spares an issue or hours to do basic main. a cost issue

Not sure there are any specific problems with spares as many of the parts are recognisably from Robin. Also, there seem to be quite a few Wassmers operating on the Continent. Our group doesn't seem to have a problem with spares thus far.

More of an issue is perhaps the 'plastic' monocock fuselage, wings and fin/rudder. I think only the elevator is aluminium/duralanium (or whatever it is called). Who would/could repair that lot?

yep the one at Spanhoe is a Baladou. Cream and Burgundy. Nice enough looking and the group seem very happy with it.

Carl Tyers at Windmiall Aviation knows a lot about them and he maintains it.

They tend to be a bit of a ground-hog. Definitely not a short fielder. The WA41 was Wassmer's answer to the Jodel D140, but not as good

[QUOTE=High Wing * The 52 is fitted with a strange vacum 3 axis autopilot. Predictibly spends most of its time U/S.

:hmm: but nobody doesn't love hand flying a Wa52 - I'd never pass control of such a charming aircraft to a couple of rubber bellows :)

weight and balance is an issue. The 52 has four seats but it not certified to take four.

In side its an ergnomic nightmare, courtesy of the French.

Rumours are that there may be potential delamination problems arising with the tailplanes.

Just like an AA5! (see above).