GUY NORRIS / LOS ANGELES
Aviat Aircraft has received US Federal Aviation Administration approval for the Pup, a high-wing, two-seat light utility design based on the Husky A-1B.
The Wyoming-based company, which also makes the Pitts and Eagle, has also begun first deliveries of Pups to dealers following receipt of production certification. While closely resembling the Husky and having a less powerful 160hp (120kW) Textron Lycoming 0-360 flat-four engine, the Pup has a greater useful load and flies up to 370km (200nm) further than its 180hp-powered predecessor on the same 208 litre (52US gal) fuel tanks.
The tail-dragger Pup also shares the Husky's 10.7m (35.3ft) span and 6.8m length, but has no flaps and a fixed pitch propeller. Aviat says that despite the slightly extended ground runs that result, the Pup can still take off in 186m, achieve a 1,050ft/min (5.3m/s) climb rate, a service ceiling of 17,000ft and a landing roll of 180m. Several changes have also been made to the standard equipment fit, which on the Pup includes a MicroAir Com GTX 320 transponder, Garmin GPS III and Cleveland brakes, main wheels and tyres. The Pup is also adaptable to floats and skis, adds Aviat.
Meanwhile, Aircraft Spruce & Speciality has purchased the design rights of the Cozy III and MkIV experimental kit-built aircraft from Co-Z Development president Nat Puffer. The California-based company is a long-standing supplier of Cozy materials and kits, but now becomes the source for Cozy plans. More than 800 sets of plans for the Cozy III, a side-by-side derivative of the Rutan Long EZ, have been sold, while sales of the four-seater canard-pusher Cozy MkIV are approaching 2,000.
Source: Flight International
