Aircorp Bushmaster
{{Short description|1990s prototype Australian light aircraft }}
{{About|a prototype Australian aircraft intended for certification|the unrelated American aircraft of similar name and configuration intended for amateur construction |Alaskan Bushmaster}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
|name=B2-N Bushmaster |image= |caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type |type=Civil utility aircraft |national origin=Australia |manufacturer=AircorpEyre 2019Lambert 1991, p.2 |designer=C. W. "Bill" Whitney |introduced= |retired= |status= |primary user= |developed from= |variants with their own articles= |developed into= }} |
The Aircorp B2-N Bushmaster{{refn|group=lower-alpha|Eyre gives the prototype's designation as "BN-2", and that of other two-seat variants as "B2-xx". Jane's sources use the format "B2-N" for the prototype, consistent with the planned production models. This article follows Jane's.}} is a prototype Australian light aircraft designed for aerobatic, touring, and utility use.Taylor 1993, p.914 It first flew in 1989 and did not enter production.
Design and development
The Bushmaster is a high-wing, strut-braced monoplane of conventional design with fixed, tailwheel undercarriage. It has two seats, side-by-side, in an enclosed cabin. Fuselage construction is of welded steel tube, covered in fabric, and the wing is all metal. It is powered by a nose-mounted engine driving a tractor propeller. This engine was originally a Norton Aerotor 90 wankel engine, also intended to power production examples.
The prototype, VH-BOI, first flew on 28 October 1989. Certification for the original Norton powerplant was delayed, so it was changed to a Lycoming O-235 after this first flight.Carman 1992, p.11 The engine change necessitated some other modifications to the aircraft, including changes to the engine cowling and the undercarriage.
The Bushmaster received its Certificate of Airworthiness in late 1990. Production was to take place at Caboolture Airport. However, by early 1992, Aircorp was under financial pressure, which led one of the original partners in the company, Peter Ferro, to buy it out to continue the project.
By 1992, a range of models had been proposed, and the prototype was modified to make it comply with American FAR 23 regulations in preparation for marketing in the US. Production examples were also to have redesigned wing spars, relocated fuel tanks, wings braced with I-struts instead of the V-struts of the prototype, and three-position flaps. Flight testing of the four-seat B4-80 model was anticipated to start in late 1992.
However, by 2007, no further examples had been produced and the prototype was sold off.
Variants
;B2-N
:Prototype VH-BOI. First flight 28 October 1989 (1 built)
;B2-16
:Planned two-seat side-by-side production variant
;B2-16A
:Planned variant with 2+2 seating
;B3-16
:Planned variant with a single seat in front, with a bench seat for two passengers behind it
;B4-16
:Planned four-seat variant with a stretched cabin
;B4-60
:Planned four-seat variant with a stretched cabin and a 119 kw (160 hp) Lycoming engine
;B4-80
:Planned four-seat variant with a stretched cabin and a 134 kw (180 hp) Lycoming engine
Specifications (B2-N)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Lambert 1991, pp.2-3
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References
=Footnotes=
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
=Citations=
{{reflist}}
=Bibliography=
- {{cite magazine |last=Carman |first=Gerry |title=Local aircraft builders need funds |magazine=Aircraft & Aerospace |date=June 1992 |publisher=Peter Isaacson |location=Prahan, Victoria }}
- {{cite web |last=Eyre |first=David C. |title=Aircorp BN-2 Bushmaster |website=Aeropedia |url=https://aeropedia.com.au/content/aircorp-bn-2-bushmaster/ |date=8 May 2019 |access-date=11 June 2024 }}
- {{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1991-92 |editor1-last=Lambert |editor1-first=Mark |editor2-last=Munson |editor2-first=Kenneth |editor3-last=Taylor |editor3-first=Michael J.H. |date=1991 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |location=Coulson, Surrey, UK |edition=82nd }}
- {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London }}
Category:1980s Australian civil utility aircraft
Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft
Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear