AESL Airtourer

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The AESL Airtourer is an all metal light low wing monoplane touring aircraft developed in Australia and manufactured in New Zealand.

The Airtourer was developed by Victa of Australia - best known for making lawn mowers - from a design by Henry Millicer dating back to 1953. An all wood prototype VH-FMM (also well known as known as Foxtrot Mickey Mouse in Australian avaition history) was first flown 10 April 1959. After trial flights over Melbourne and then to the Latrobe Airfield (home of the GA8 Airvan - VH-FMM pic coming soon circ. late 1959 at LV) developement continued to the all metal version. The all metal prototype to production standard followed on 12 December 1961. From 1961 to 1965, Airtourers were produced by Victa (Melbourne) with 100 or 115hp engines, before rights were purchased by Aero Engine Services Limited of Hamilton, New Zealand. Victa production ended in mid 1966.

After spending many years in Melbourne VH-FMM (both in storage and semi-restored at the Museum of Victoria, Melbourne - Tech/Aviation section in the 80/90's), it is now in the Museum of Flight, Nowra, New South Wales.

1 Variants
2 Specifications
3 Military Operators
4 External link

[edit] Variants

AESL produced 7 Airtourers from parts provided by Victa, before launching production of its own aircraft, ultimately produced in 7 different variants:

T1 powered by a 100 hp Continental O-200 engine
T2 powered by a 115 hp Lycoming O-235 engine
T3 powered by a 130 hp Rolls Royce O-240 engine
T4 powered by a 150 hp Lycoming O-320-E1A - fixed pitch propellor
T5 powered by a 150 hp Lycoming O-320-E1A - Controlled Speed propellor
T6 initially a small run of 4 aircraft for the RNZAF, powered by a 150 hp Lycoming O-320-E1A - Coonstant Speed propellor with gross weight increased from T-5 and 24 volt electrics.
T8 powered by a 160 hp Lycoming AEIO-320 with fuel injection.

(The T7 was offered as a fixed pitch T6, but none were ordered).

AESL delivery pilot Cliff Tait used an Airtourer for a record breaking flight, circumnavigating the world between May and August 1969 and covering 53,097km in 288 flying hours in ZK-CXU.

A higher powered 4 seat variant, called the Aircrusier, had been built as a one off by Victa in 1966. Ownership of this aircraft passed to AESL who rebuilt it as a prototype of the successful CT/4 Airtrainer, production of which continues by AESL descendant, Pacific Aerospace.

AESL production of the Airtourer commenced in July 1967 and terminated after the delivery of 87 aircraft in July 1973. Rights to produce the Airtourer were sold to Edge Aviation of Australia, who rebuilt a single AESL aircraft, but no further production followed. A large number of Airtourers continue to fly, particularly in Australasia.