Zandvlei Trust
"Building the bird"called a Cozy – ZU CZZ, Serial No 219.
Promoting homebuilding in South Africa.
Contact Gavin Lawson if you are a homebuilder and require parts made.
Introduction
The Cozy Mk4 owner Chris van Hoof decided
to build this composite (fibreglass) airplane from plans he bought in 1994. It has a 4 cylinder 200hp Lycoming engine. It is a "pusher" (engine at the
back) with a canard wing in the front. The front wheel is retractable.
The canopy opens sideways. It seats 4 adults. Nat Puffer designed this
plane in the 1970's and it still looks futuristic.
Burt Rutan's the designer of the Longeze (2 seater in tandum) and others, became the first airplane to fly into space and back. Mike Melville (South African living in the USA) piloted the plane on 21 June 2004, to 100km above the earth.
Read more (below) about the building of this plane in Johannesburg.
2008
Feature article in April 2008 edtion. Chris also flies his 1947 Aeronca Chief taildragger when he can.
2007
photograph by Bruce Perkins
Photograph from Sun 'n Fun in Rustenburg June 2007 featured in SA Flyer November 2007.
2006
photograph by Athol Franz
Chris flying ZU CZZ over the southern areas of Johannesburg, the new propellor installed.
Feature articles in the March and April 2006 editons of African Pilot magazines.
2005
photograph by Chris van Hoof
Cozy ZU CZZ parked at the end of the runway after its maiden flight.
Note the late winter afternoon smog and the dry highveld
grass.
09/09/2005
–
The Cozy "fledged" on its maiden flight today. Chris van Hoof
the (owner builder) and Dave King the test pilot, flew a test circuit
of 15 minutes at Baragwanath airport (Johannesburg). It handled well in
good flying conditions.
This is the first 4 seater Cozy built and flown on the African
continent, a proud achievement and occasion for a number of people.
There is still a lot of testing to do, and then the finishing and
detailing.
Well done to everyone concerned.
2004
photograph by Chris van Hoof
The painting was done in Pietersburg (Polokwane) which is 350 kms north of Johannesburg.
2003
photograph by Chris van Hoof
Pieter de Necker with the Cozy propeller he has made.
2002
photograph by Chris van Hoof
Graham Pick has nearly completed the fuselarge.
