Varga 2150 Kachina

Last updated
2150 Kachina
Varga 2150 at Carlsbad 2008.jpg
Varga 2150A Kachina at McClellan-Palomar Airport California in January 2008
Rolepersonal, primary trainer
National originUnited States
ManufacturerMorrisey, Shinn, Varga
DesignerWilliam J. Morrisey
First flight1958
Developed from Morrisey Nifty

The Varga 2150 Kachina is an American all-metal, low-wing, fixed-gear, two-seat light aircraft fitted with a tricycle undercarriage.

Contents

Design

In 1948, American aircraft test pilot/aircraft designer W.J. Morrisey produced a wood-and-fabric light aircraft, the 1000C (Nifty). It did not sell well, so in 1958 he reworked the basic design, giving it an all-metal structure and increased power from a Lycoming O-235 engine. The aircraft is a cantilever low-wing monoplane with plain ailerons and two-position trailing-edge flaps, conventional empennage, fixed nosewheel landing gear, and tandem seating. Dual controls are provided as standard.

Development

Varga Kachina Logo Varga Kachina Logo.jpg
Varga Kachina Logo

In 1958 The Morrisey Aviation Inc. company began building the re-designed aircraft. Two units were completed as the Morrisey 2000. [1] A further improvement came with the Morrisey 2150, incorporating a 108 hp Lycoming O-235 engine. The company had built nine aircraft by the end of 1959. [2]

Morrisey 2150A built in 1962. Varga Morrisey 2150A N5147V WPB Cty 16.04.72 edited-4.jpg
Morrisey 2150A built in 1962.

The construction and design rights were then sold to Shinn Engineering Inc. which built 35 improved Shinn 2150A aircraft with a 150 hp (110 kW) Lycoming O-320-A2C engine (an engine series still in production as of 2025), ceasing production in 1962. [3]

The 2150A design rights were sold in 1967 to used aircraft parts supplier George Varga, who formed the Varga Aircraft Corporation. The Varga 2150A Kachina was built at Chandler, Arizona between 1975 and 1982. 121 examples of the 2150A Kachina and 18 Varga 2180s with a 180 hp Lycoming O-360-A2D engine were completed. A tailwheel option was available as the Varga 2150TG. [3] [4]

Bill Morrisey later re-acquired the design rights and launched a kit version of the original Morrisey 2000C.

The Morrisey/Shinn/Varga 2150 remains in widespread use in the US, and several aircraft are flown in Europe and South America. [2]

Variants

Varga Kachina parked on the ramp of Stephenville Clark Regional Airport. Varga Kachina at SEP.jpg
Varga Kachina parked on the ramp of Stephenville Clark Regional Airport.
Morrisey 2000C
Variant with Lycoming O-235 engine [2]
Morrisey 2150
Variant with Lycoming O-320-A2C engine. [5]
Shinn 2150
Morrisey 2150 built by Shinn Engineering. [5]
Varga 2150A Kachina
Morrisey 2150 built by Varga Aircraft. [5]
Varga 2150TG
Tailwheel version of the 2150A [3]
Varga 2180 Kachina
Variant with Lycoming O-360-A2D engine. [5]

Specifications (2150A)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982-83 [6]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Notes

References