OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums General Discussion Forum Off Topics Victa Airtourer History

Hi to All,


The Airtourer was designed by Dr. Henry Millicer, of the Australian Government Aircraft Factory (GAF), and was the winning entrant in a (British) Royal Aero Club sponsored Light Aircraft Design competition.

The Airtourer Group then formed in Australia to build a 65 hp Continental powered wooden prototype, which first flew in March 1959. This attracted the interest of Victa Ltd, and in particular Mervyn, who had a long time interest in aviation.

Promoted by its founder, Mervyn Richardson and his son Gary, the Victa Lawnmower manufacturer formed an aviation division in 1960 to manufacture and develop Millicer�s design as the Victa Airtourer. This was an all-metal version with a 100 hp Continental engine. The first prototype flew in December 1961 with the first production machine flying in mid-1962.The more powerful Airtourer 115, with the 115 hp Lycoming engine, followed in September of that year.

Victa built 170 Airtourers before succumbing to cheap American imports being price-dumped on our shores, and the design was purchased by Aero Engine Services Ltd. (AESL) of New Zealand, in 1967. They produced 94 Airtourers, including more powerful 130 and 150 hp versions, and the militarised version.

AESL's successor, New Zealand Aerospace Industries (NZAI) produced a trainer based on the Aircruiser development of the Airtourer, and sold it to the Royal Australian Air Force as the NZAI CT-4 Airtrainer.

Hi Deejay and ODK members,

A very nice looking aircraft, and I loved the irony of the buy-back from NZ.
Below are a couple of great links:

Air Tourer Booklet
Photographs

Victa really was a progressive company in those days.
They even considered a gyrocopter.

All very airworthy.
-------------------------------------
JACK

Thanks Jack for posting this information...I will sit down and read the booklet tomorrow.
Excellent stuff!!