ANDERSON "KINGFISHER" - Plane + Pilot

ANDERSON “KINGFISHER”

Plane & Pilot

Saturday, August 01, 2009 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: Omar Filipović

Key Takeaways:

The Kingfisher aircraft, inspired by the VJ-22 Sportsman, features J-3 Cub wings, a 100-hp Continental engine, and spruce/plywood/fiberglass construction.
Its design significantly differs from its inspiration by using a tractor engine mounting, simplifying engine systems and propeller requirements.
Standard data includes a gross weight of 1,500 lbs, a wingspan of 36'1", and a length of 24'.
Performance highlights include a top speed of 122 mph, a cruise speed of 90 mph, and a range of 275 miles.

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STANDARD DATA: Gross wt. 1,500. Empty wt. 1,032. Fuel capacity 20. Wingspan 36’1″. Length 24′.
PERFORMANCE: Top mph 122. Cruise mph 90. Stall mph 42. Climb rate 550. Takeoff time 16 sec. Range 275.

Designer Anderson credits the highly popular VJ-22 Sportsman as the inspiration behind his own creation, the Kingfisher. There are many similarities between the two. Both use wings from production airplanes, the J-3 Cub in the case of the Kingfisher. Both use 100-hp Continental engines. General structural technique is similar with the fuselage built of spruce longerons and braces with mahogany plywood skin and an overall lightweight covering of fiberglass. The biggest difference is Anderson’s choice of a tractor engine mounting rather than a pusher. In this way the engine mounts on its proper pads, the cooling, induction, and exhaust systems are standard, and there is no necessity to have the propeller custom made. Plans are still available.