Bennett Airtruck

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The PL-11 Airtruck (Bennett Aviation BA-001 ZK-BPV & Waitomo Aircraft WA-002 ZK-CKE) is a New Zealand Agricultural aircraft.

A strikingly unusual aircraft, the PL.11 Airtruck was designed as a de Havilland Tiger Moth replacement for the New Zealand aerial topdressing market by Luigi Pellarini in the early 1960s. The prototype was constructed largely from bits of war surplus ex-RNZAF North American Harvards. It featured all aluminimum structure, a high wing monoplane with a steel stub wing and V lift struts, steerable tricycle undercarriage, an extremely stubby pod fuselage, the cockpit (made from shortened harvard glazing) being mounted directly over the radial engine, providing excellent forward view and very high drag, beneath it was room for a superphosphate hopper or up to 5 people in a cabin. The strangeness was completed by twin booms each supporting unconnected tail units, (the idea being a truck could reverse between the tail units to load the hopper). Despite the outlandish appearance the Airtruck was perhaps surprisingly successful, if unable to compete with the Fletcher Fu24 in its design market. A shortage of Harvard parts lead to the type being redsigned for all new construction, as the Transavia Airtruck, which was mass produced in Australia.

Waitomo Aircraft ltd had it's Head Office & Works at Te Kumi Airfield, Te Kuiti. The Manager and Chief Engineer was Geoffrey Edgar Frank Young, B.Sc.(Eng.), Grad R.Ae.S.