Flitzer Z-21

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]

Z-21
Role Amateur-built aircraft
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Flitzer Sportplanes
Bell Aeromarine
Designer Lynn Williams
Status Plans available (2012)
Unit cost
£160 (plans, 2015)

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)
gollark: Great!
gollark: What if I just say them very loudly and use a sound mirror thing™ positioned a few hundred metres away?
gollark: What if I secretly automate memorizing numbers?
gollark: These are mostly correlated, apparently (not typing speed and aim) so this is weird.
gollark: Yes; most people are, as it turns out, awful at typing.

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".
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