There is a lack of information on the web of the New Zealand indigenous microlight, the Snark. In gathering information for my own page on the Snark (located here , designer Bill Barber supplied me with a fairly full set of specifications, and offered me some of his own pictures to use. Since my standard page layout doesn't include all these details and there is a such a lack of information on the web, I thought it would be useful to add a new page. I hope this will answer any questions you may have about the Snark - otherwise Bill's address is at the bottom of the page.
The Snarks -*- Pictures -*- HA3-B Specs -*- Contact Details
SNARK HA1 ZK-FOU (now deregistered)
Single seat, all composite, mid engine, shaft driven prop behind the tail group, Rotax 503 powered.
This aircraft was never flown, except for a few short "hops", due to an attack of extreme cowardice on the part of the builder. It has been deregistered, but will be revisited sometime.
SNARK HA2 ZK-FYE
The prototype and "plug" for what has become the HA3. Designed as a two place micro., but registered and used as a single place. Will be redesignated as a two place microlight, and after inspection will be become an HA2-B.
Welded tube frame, composite wing structure and tail boom, fabric covered wing and tail surfaces. Has a large wing area and very low stall speed, somewhat less than 20 MPH.
Rotax 503 powered.
SNARK HA3 ZK-JEK #001
Same general appearance as FYE, but is all composite construction, with a different wing. Wing has less area, higher AR., a laminar section, and has full span "flaperons".
This wing has less washout than intended, .75 of a degree, and will drop a wing at stall. Subsequent examples have more washout.
Powered by a Suzuki G13 motor.
SNARK HA3 ZK-PIE #002 D Laing Dunedin
Supplied in pieces to David Laing. Is identical to JEK except that it has separate flaps and ailerons, and the wing has 2 degrees of washout. In view of this, suggest that it be called an HA3-B.
Suzuki G13 motor.
SNARK HA3-B ZK-JIU #003
Identical in all respects to PIE, except has Suzuki G13 GTI motor.
Note: Before anybody asks, the designation "HA" is the result of a pathetic joke, which I have absolutely no intention of repeating to anyone, except to point out that it does not refer to "Horses Arse"!
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David Laing in foreground (ZK-PIE), self and wife middle (ZK-JIU), and George Taylor (ZK-JEK). Just before George and I left for Warbirds Over Wanaka. |
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ZK-FYE at Dacre. |
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Alexandra on the way home from the Wanaka airshow 98, shot by George Taylor in JEK. |
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"hoonery" at Dacre, shot by D Laing. |
| Empty Wt. (with oil and coolant, no fuel) | 331 kg | |
| Wing Span | 30.5 ft. | |
| Wing Area | 132.93 sq. ft.nominal (121 actual) | |
| Root Chord | 5.33 ft. | |
| Tip Chord | 2.88 ft. | |
| Aspect Ratio | 7.46 | |
| Wing Section | Riblett GA37U-A315 | |
| Length | 20.5 ft. (6.24 m ) | |
| Height (to tail) | 8 ft. ( 2.43 m ) | |
| Cockpit Width | 24 inches. | |
| Headroom | 4 -6 inches. | |
| Seats | 2 | |
| Baggage Compartment | - | |
| Fuel Tank | In fuselage. | |
| Fuel Capacity | 60 litres. | |
| Fuel Useable | 55 litres. | |
| Fuel Type | 96 oct. Auto or Avgas | |
| Engine | Suzuki G13 GTI | |
| HP | 80 | |
| Fuel System | Electronic Fuel Injection | |
| Fuel Consumption | 10 - 11 litres/hr. (in cruise) | |
| Coolant System | 4.5 litres. | |
| Oil | 3.5 litres. | |
| Electrical System | 12 volt, standard automotive. | |
| Battery | Mounted in nose. | |
| Propeller | "Warp Drive" 62", 3 blade. | |
| Reduction | Toothed Belt | |
| Reduction Ratio | 2/1 | |
| Wheels | Azusa 6 inch aluminium | |
| Brakes | Azusa, cable operated, lever on stick. | |
| Tyres and tubes | 13 x 5 x 6 | |
| Take Off Roll | 122 M. | |
| Rate of Climb | 12 - 1400 fpm. (1 up, 1/2 fuel ) | |
| Service Ceiling | 12000 ft. | |
| Cruise Speed | 128 MPH (@ 4500 RPM) | |
| VNE | 140 MPH (will be extended) | |
| Power off Stall (no flaps) | 41 MPH | |
| Power off Stall (with flaps) | 38 MPH | |
| Landing Ground Roll | 110 M. | |
| Design Gross Wt. | 520 kg. | |
| Design Load Factor | + / - 6 | |
| Design Safety Factor | 2 | |
| Useful Load | 190 kg. | |
| Roll Rate | not known (fairly quick) | |
| Range | 650 miles (no reserve) | |
| Safety Harness | "Willans" 4 point, competition. |
Construction:
| Wing Spars | UD Carbon Caps, Carbon BID Shear webs. |
| Wing and control surface skins | Kevlar / Coremat sandwich. |
| Wing Ribs | Kevlar and carbon. |
| Tail Boom | Carbon. |
| Fuselage | Kevlar and glass. |
| Main Gear Legs | UD Carbon and Kevlar. |
Resin used : Structural components - ADR 240 with ADH 160 / 162
Hardener.
Any future kit production will be based on the machine now under construction, ie:
Engine bay will be widened slightly to accomodate Rotax 912, or Jabiru etc.
Flaps will be slotted instead of plain as at present.
There will be some weight saving made in the airframe.
These changes should result in increased performance.
Bill Barber,
393 Littles Road,
Queenstown RD 1,
New Zealand.
Phone/Fax: 64 3 4425866
e-mail: snark@es.co.nz
Images & text © W.B. (Bill) Barber
Html & Intro © 2000 Phillip Treweek, all rights reserved