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| Barber Snark | |
|---|---|
| Role | motor glider |
| National origin | New Zealand |
| Manufacturer | Charles Stanton |
| First flight | 26 February 1995 |
| Retired | 16 April 2005 |
| Status | Museum display |
| Number built | 1 |
The Sunbird is a single-seater homebuilt motor glider, designed and built in New Zealand by Charles Stanton. It first flew in 1995, and was retired in 2005. [1]
Charles Stanton of Nelson, New Zealand had previously built and flown an AmEagle American Eaglet motor glider, registration ZK-GOE (c/n AACA/641). [2] That craft's registration was cancelled in 1992. Stanton then went on to design and build a motor glider, and utilised components from the American Eaglet. Construction took over three years, and was completed by early 1995.
The Sunbird was a self-launching motor glider. [3] It was a high-wing monoplane of conventional configuration, with a pod-and-boom style of fuselage. The cantilevered wing had no dihedral and its planform was of constant chord with a tapered outer section. The pilot was housed in a small faired nacelle. The engine was located at the rear of the nacelle, and powered a two-bladed folding propeller. [1] The engine was a 21 kW (28 hp) Rotax 277, which could be re-started in flight. [4] The empennage was of the standard type arranged in a cruciform configuration. The undercarriage was a fixed monowheel fitted with a wheel spat. The Sunbird met the New Zealand specifications for Class 1 Microlights, and was issued with the registration ZK-JEA. [3]
It first flew on 26 February 1995, with Stanton reportedly making numerous flights in it over the next ten years. On one flight, it reached an altitude of 4,000 m (13,000 ft). Another flight lasted for 3+1⁄2 hours. The craft's final flight took place on 16 April 2005. It was donated to the Ashburton Aviation Museum on 4 December 2005, during the Museum's Christmas Party. [3]
Data from NZ Civil Aircraft [3]
General characteristics
Performance
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