BIRTH OF THE “BOEREMEISE”
Set to make its international debut at next September’s Africa Aerospace and Defence expo at the Waterkloof AFB, near Pretoria, this comparatively lightweight South Africandesigned and built amphibian will probably be the only new aircraft on view – civilian or military – and will be powered by the locally designed and built Adept Airmotive 320 hp turbo engine...
Mark Mansfield reports
BOEREMEISE IS the nickname given to a new amphibious bush aircraft, officially named the C-Wolf aerial utility vehicle (AUV), which is currently under development and scheduled to make its debut at the 2012 Africa Aerospace and Defence Expo (AAD 2012) at the Waterkloof Air Force Base, in Pretoria, later this year. It will become the first fully designed and developed amphibious aircraft to be built in Africa. The aircraft, “Boeremeise”, (which translated from Afrikaans into English means “farm girl”) is the brainchild of Wolfgang Vormbaum who conceived the idea more than three decades ago, but who is now actively developing and building the AUV.
The development began early last year following an agreement reached between Vormbaum Engineering and ACL Familietrust to form a new company that would turn the concept of the C-Wolf into a certified aircraft. The company that was subsequently formed is known as the Vliegmasjien (Pty) Ltd. (Vliegmasjien translates to “flying machine”). The C-Wolf design will serve as platform for two distinct variations of the basic design, namely a six-seat amphibious bush plane to be named the C-Wolf Aerial Utility Vehicle, of which a full scale version will be on display at AAD 2012, and a two-seat search and rescue, long range patrol plane, specifically suited for coastal patrols.
This latter currently as yet unnamed version, will only follow once the “Boeremeisie” has taken to the air, but promises to have some very unique rescue features. Details of this aircraft are expected to be unveiled at AAD 2012. The Boeremeisie, or C-Wolf AUV, will be manufactured from the latest composite materials, and will be powered by the locally manufactured Adept Airmotive 320 hp turbo engine driving a three blade propeller. The engine itself is currently in an advanced stage of testing prior to certification. A tentative deal has been struck between Vliegmasjien and Adept Airmotive in which the prototype C-Wolf AUV will be fitted
with a test version of the Adept Airmotive powerplant. The data obtained will be fed back to Adept and this will form part of its certification process.
The agreement calls for Adept Airmotive to ensure that the engine is fully suited to the Boeremeisie’s “pusher” requirements. Adept has also offered its assistance to
Vliegmasjien in the aircraft’s certification process. Although still subject to final confirmation, the C-Wolf AUV is set to meet several stringent criteria such as a stall speed of less than 50 knots; a “useable” payload of a minimum of 1 650 lbs (748 kg); have a cockpit visibility arc of about 270 degrees; have a good short field capability for its land-based operations; a cruise speed of at least 120 knots and a Vne of 178 knots.
With a wing span of about 12 metres and an overall length of 8,63 m, the aircraft is expected to have an empty weight of 839 kg (1 850 lbs).
Take-off distance (no flap, from land) to clear a 17-metre obstacle is calculated to be around 277 metres (910 feet) with a landing distance, also with no flap, of just under 500 metres. Rate of climb is expected to be 1 100 feet per minute. Prospective clients are being promised unparalleled safety, functionality and practicality due to the aircraft’s high standards in precision German engineering design. AAD 2012 “STAR” If the manufacturer’s plans reach fruition, the C-Wolf will be one of the “stars” at AAD 2012.
It is currently the only new civilian aircraft known to be on the booking list for the exhibition. General aviation is still tending to drag its heels as far as bookings for the show are concerned and many companies could well find themselves left out in the cold if they do not sign up for the show soon. Of the 12 620 square metres of indoor display space available, 93% had already been booked by the time of writing. This means that just under 825 square metres is still available, or the approximate size of one large stand.
Total bookings (mainly military) already well exceed those of the previous show at Ysterplaat, in Cape Town, in 2010 which itself was an all time record event. Of the approximately 8 000 square metres of outdoor space available, over half – 4 323 m2 – had been sold by the time of writing. So far 22 aircraft, the types of which have yet to be made known, have been booked for this segment of the overall display area. In
addition 28 of the available 54 chalets have been booked.
The lead partner for this year’s show, the Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa, was doing its best to promote participation of general aviation at AAD 2012, the association’s CEO, Leon Dillman, told CAASA’s annual meeting in Johannesburg recently. “Besides the creation of a ‘Fun and Fly
Park’ where sport and recreational aviation entities can exhibit at reduced cost, smaller aviation entities can exhibit free of charge if they apply through the Department of Trade and Industry, “CAASA has also included the Aero Club of SA and RAASA in the AAD Youth Development Programme and is currently
negotiating for more flying slots general aviation,” said Dillman.
