Flitzer Z-21

Z-21
General information
Type	Amateur-built aircraft
National origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Flitzer Sportplanes Bell Aeromarine
Designer	Lynn Williams
Status	Plans available (2012)

The Flitzer Z-21 or Staaken Flitzer is a British amateur-built aircraft, designed by Lynn Williams and produced by Flitzer Sportplanes of Aberdare, Wales. The aircraft is supplied as plans for amateur construction. ^{[1] [2]}

In the late 1990s, it was also marketed as plans and in kit form by Bell Aeromarine of Leicester, UK. ^[3]

Design and development

The Z-21 is a single-seat, open cockpit 1920s-style biplane with fixed conventional landing gear with spoked wheels and a single engine in tractor configuration. ^{[1] [2]}

The aircraft is made from wood, with its flying surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric. Its 5.5 m (18.0 ft) span wing has a combined area of 9 m² (97 sq ft) and ailerons on the bottom wing only. The aircraft was designed for the 65 hp (48 kW) Volkswagen air-cooled engine, but other variants have been developed that use a variety of engines, including the 110 hp (82 kW) Rotec R2800 radial engine. ^{[1] [2]}

Further planned developments include a tandem two seater, a four aileron version and a lighter weight version. ^{[1] [2]}

Operational history

In August 2014 there were eleven Flitzers registered in the United Kingdom. ^[4]

Specifications (Z-21)

Data from Bayerl and Tacke ^{[1] [2]}

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Wingspan: 5.5 m (18 ft 1 in)
• Wing area: 9 m² (97 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 218 kg (481 lb)
• Gross weight: 341 kg (752 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 38.6 litres (8.5 imp gal; 10.2 US gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Volkswagen air-cooled engine four cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke automotive conversion, 48 kW (65 hp)
• Propellers: 2-bladed wooden

Performance

• Maximum speed: 150 km/h (93 mph, 81 kn)
• Cruise speed: 137 km/h (85 mph, 74 kn)
• Stall speed: 67 km/h (42 mph, 36 kn)
• Rate of climb: 3.6 m/s (710 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 37.9 kg/m² (7.8 lb/sq ft)

References

1. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 103. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
2. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 108. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN   1368-485X
3. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 362. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN   0-9636409-4-1
4. "CAA Register".

• Williams, Lynn (August 1996). "Flitzer: Fiction Made Fact". Aeroplane Monthly . Vol. 24, no. 8. pp. 64–67. ISSN   0143-7240.

External links

• Official website