Barber Snark

(Source materials for this section are derived from Tim Cripp's magazine article in Today's Pilot'' of September 2006)

The Snark is a tricycle aircraft of composite construction. Its glider-like cockpit accommodates a pilot and passenger in tandem, the passenger sitting behind and higher than the pilot. The centrally mounted shoulder-wing lies behind the pilot, who has unrestricted visibility. The {{convert|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} engine is sited behind the cockpit, driving a pusher propeller. Wing control surfaces on the third Snark are flaperons, while the fourth aircraft has conventional ailerons and flaps.{{cite web|url=http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/9704.htm|title=Barber Snark HA/3|work=1000aircraftphotos.com|accessdate=17 September 2015}}{{rs|date=May 2025}} Above the propeller, and aft of the cockpit is a slender boom to its T-tail empennage. The high-level tailplane is mounted above the propeller slipstream. There is a springy nylon skid beneath the fin to protect the propeller from ground strikes.

Former RNZAF Squadron Leader and aviation journalist Tim Cripps Note: In 2007 The Western Telegraph reported that Cripps was badly injured in a flying accident when a homebuilt microlight he was flying fron Andreas airfield in the Isle of Man crashed shortly after takeoff: [https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/1383468.pilot-70-recovering-after-test-flight-crash/ ] wrote an extensive article in Today's Pilot, highly praising the Snark, and describing its history, ingenious design, and flying ability. Today's Pilot magazine article, September 2006 page 90{{vs|reason=not enough detail to allow source to be verified|date=May 2025}} The aircaft under test, ZK-JPS, was fitted with Rotax 912S flat-four engine producing 100hp.

The main undercarriage struts are made from a Grove alloy beam. The struts are pivoted to-and-fro by a hydraulic pump hand-operated within the cockpit. On the ground, the wheels are positioned aft of the empty CG; once aboard, the pilot pivots the wheels forward to allow a correct CG for flight. Back on the ground and parked, the wheels are moved back again before dismounting. This design means that when the cockpit is vacated, there is no inherent tendency for the aircraft to tip backwards, thereby avoiding the risk (common in tandem microlights) of the aircraft left vulnerable to being blown over.

The removable wings have a "near-laminar Riblett GA 37 a 315 section", chosen as it has a very low pitching moment since the point of maximum thickness is further aft (37%) of the chord than other microlights. The wings taper from root to tip, with both chord and thickness reducing symmetrically.

On ZK-JPS, its Arplast composite three-blade variable pitcher pusher propeller is not mounted directly onto the engine gearbox, but has a an 18" extension tube to allow clean airflow right to the propeller hub. A Barber-designed flexible clutch successfully overcame torsional vibrations at low engine speeds.

The Snark received positive reviews in the UK and NZ press. David Laing, a former WWII pilot who built the fourth Snark, declared it to be "one of the nicest planes I've ever flown". Tim Cripps added in Today's Pilot, "this is the most enjoyable of the many aircraft I have flown - and that includes the Hunter".

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Treweek{{rs|date=May 2025}}

|prime units?=met

|crew=one

|capacity=one passenger

|length m=6.24

|length note=

|span m=9.3

|span note=

|height m=2.43

|height note=

|wing area sqm=

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|aspect ratio=

|airfoil=

|empty weight kg=331

|empty weight note=

|gross weight kg=

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|max takeoff weight kg=520

|max takeoff weight note=

|fuel capacity={{convert|55|L|gal}} usable

|more general=

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=Suzuki G13

|eng1 type=four stroke

|eng1 hp=80

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|prop dia m=

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|max speed kmh=

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|cruise speed kmh=205

|cruise speed note=

|stall speed kmh=61

|stall speed note=with flaps

|never exceed speed kmh=225

|never exceed speed note=

|range km=1040

|range note=

|endurance=

|ceiling m=3658

|ceiling note=

|g limits=

|roll rate=

|climb rate ms=7.12

|climb rate note=

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|avionics=

}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Barber Snark}}

• [http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/9704.htm Barber Snark]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160305120603/http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/barber.html Background and images]

Category:Homebuilt aircraft

Category:Shoulder-wing aircraft

Category:Aircraft manufactured in New Zealand

Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft

Category:Aircraft first flown in 1987