Volmer VJ-22 Sportsman

{{Infobox aircraft | name = VJ-22 Sportsman | logo = | logo_size = | image = Volmer VJ-22 Sportsman flying boat homebuilt C-GHTY taking off from Courtenay Airpark, BC.JPG | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Homebuilt aircraft|Homebuilt]] [[Amphibious aircraft|amphibian]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[United States of America]] | manufacturer = | design_group = | designer = [[Volmer Jensen]] | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 22 December 1958 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} [[File:VOLMER SPORTSMAN N3125B.jpg|thumb|Volmer Sportsman at [[Airventure]] 2009]] The '''Volmer VJ-22 Sportsman''' is an [[United States of America|American]] [[Homebuilt aircraft|homebuilt]] [[amphibious aircraft]]. The Sportsman is a two-seat high-winged [[monoplane]] of wood and fabric construction, with over 100 built by 1993.

==Development and design== Volmer Jensen, a successful designer of [[sailplane]]s, designed the two-seat amphibious VJ-22 in 1957.<ref name="Seaplane">McCarrel, Bill. "[http://www.seaplanes.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=220&Itemid=245 The Volmer VJ-22 Sportsman]". ''The Seaplane Pilots Association''. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 13 March 2010.</ref> The new aircraft, at first called the ''Chubasco'', made its first flight on 22 December 1958.<ref name="Janes 76 p541">Taylor 1976, p.541.</ref>

The VJ-22 is a high-winged [[monoplane]], using the wings from an [[Aeronca Champion]] or [[Aeronca 11 Chief|Chief]], with a new [[flying boat]] hull of [[mahogany]] [[plywood]], waterproofed with [[fiberglass]] cloth.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Popular Science|date=June 1970|page=99}}</ref> The aircraft's single engine, normally a [[pusher configuration|pusher]] of between 85 hp (63 kW) and 100 hp (75 kW), is mounted on pylons above the wing centre section. The engine can also be mounted in [[tractor configuration]] and engines of up to 135 hp (101 kW) have been used successfully. A retractable [[conventional landing gear|tailwheel undercarriage]] is provided. The pilot and passenger sit side by side under an enclosed canopy, and are provided with dual controls.<ref name="Seaplane"/><ref name="Janes 76 p541"/><ref name="WDLA11">Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 126. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}</ref>

==Operational history== [[File:Volmer VJ-22 Sportsman Takeoff.jpg|thumb|Volmer VJ-22 Sportsman takeoff]] While Jensen attempted unsuccessfully to get the Sportsman built commercially, plans for the VJ-22 were made available to amateur builders,<ref name="Janes 76 p541"/> with 889 plans sold and over 100 completed by 1993.<ref name="Janes 93 p583"/>

The Volmer Club of America is a 501(c)4 organization established by Robert Albrecht of Louisiana to continue the legacy of the VJ-22 and make plans and specifications for its construction available to the public.

==Specifications (85 hp engine)== {{Aircraft specs |ref=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993-94<ref name="Janes 93 p583">Lambert 1993, p.583.</ref> |prime units?=imp  |genhide= |crew=2 |capacity= |length m= |length ft=24 |length in=0 |length note= |span m= |span ft=36 |span in=6 |span note= |height m= |height ft=8 |height in=0 |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=175.0 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=1000 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb=1500 |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity=20 US Gallons (76 L) |lift note= |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Continental C85]] |eng1 type= air-cooled [[flat-four]] |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=90 |power original= |thrust original= |prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note= |rot number= |rot dia m= |rot dia ft= |rot dia in= |rot area sqm= |rot area sqft= |rot area note=  |perfhide= |max speed kmh= |max speed mph=95 |max speed kts= |max speed note= |max speed mach= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=85 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=45 |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed mph= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |range km= |range miles=300 |range nmi= |range note=(max fuel, no reserves) |ferry range km= |ferry range miles= |ferry range nmi= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft=13000 |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=600 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |disk loading kg/m2= |disk loading lb/sqft= |disk loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==See also== {{aircontent  |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= *[[Anderson Kingfisher]] *[[Osprey Osprey 2]] *[[Taylor Coot]] *[[Thurston Teal]]  |lists= }}

==Notes== {{Reflist}}

==References== {{Refbegin}} * Lambert, Mark. ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993-94''. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Data Division, 1993. {{ISBN|0-7106-1066-1}}. * [[John W. R. Taylor|Taylor John W. R.]] ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976-77''. London:Macdonald and Jane's, 1976. {{ISBN|0-354-00538-3}}. {{Refend}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Volmer VJ-22 Sportsman}} * [http://wiki.increa.com/tiki-index.php?page=Volmer+VJ-22+Sportsman Volmer VJ-22 Sportsman page]

[[Category:Amphibious aircraft]] [[Category:1950s United States sport aircraft]] [[Category:Homebuilt aircraft]] [[Category:Volmer aircraft|VJ-22]] [[Category:High-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1958]] [[Category:Flying boats]] [[Category:Aircraft with retractable conventional landing gear]]