Buzzman Buccaneer SX

  • A U.S. single-seater, ultralight, amphibious kit aircraft manufactured by Adventure Aviation Incorporated from 1988 to 1998
  • An amphibious flying boat with wing-mounted floats and retractable landing gear for operating on land
  • Among the first ultralight amphibians available to the recreational flying community
  • Original Buccaneer won EAA's Best New Design award in the Ultralight category in 1984
  • Hundreds of SXs and two-seater Buccaneer IIs were flown in North America in the 1990s
  • Buccaneer variants were manufactured by numerous U.S. firms from 1984 to 1998; derivatives are presently manufactured by Aero Adventure Aviation of Rockledge, Florida
Period
1990-1999
Uses
General Aviation
First Flight
1984
Display Status
In Storage Wing.

Background History

The modern ultra-light movement that began during the late 1970s was a direct consequence of the product liability costs affecting the general aviation industry at that time. The escalating cost of small private aircraft made them unaffordable to many who wished to take up recreational flying. With the growth of the ultra-light aircraft movement, a cheaper alternative became available. Today, ultra-light pilots may well be the fastest growing group of aviators in Canada.

The Buccaneer was one of the first ultra-light amphibians made available to the recreational flying community. An amphibian aircraft is capable of taking off and landing on either land or water. On the Buccaneer, a small retractable landing gear is mounted in the hull for land operations; this gear is retracted when the aircraft is operated from water and a pair of wing-mounted floats gives the aircraft stability.

Museum Example

Registration #
C-IDWT
Manufacturer
Kit from Advanced Aviation Inc., United States
Constructor
Buzzman Enterprises Inc., Canada
Manufacture Date
1992
Serial #
9112-SX-AA
Acquisition Date
2003
Provenance
Donation
Museum Catalogue #
2003.0177.001

This Buccaneer SX was assembled in 1992 from a kit manufactured by Advanced Aviation Incorporated of Orlando, Florida and purchased through the company's Canadian distributer, Buzzman Enterprises Incorporated, of Holland Landing, Ontario.

During its career, the Buccaneer SX was flown primarily at Winchester, Ontario (in the Ottawa area) by its owner, Arleigh Vincent. The aircraft was dismantled and then stored at Winchester airport until Vincent donated it to the Museum in 2003.

Technical Specifications

 
Wing Span 9 m (29 ft 8 in)
Length 6.1 m (20 ft 2 in)
Height 1.8 m (6 ft)
Weight, Empty 153 kg (338 lb)
Weight, Gross 284 kg (625 lb)
Cruising Speed 105 km/h (65 mph)
Max Speed 130 km/h (80 mph)
Rate of Climb 335 m (1,100 ft) /min
Service Ceiling 4,270 m (14,000 ft)
Range 290 km (180 mi)
Power Plant one Rotax 503, 46 hp, inline two-stroke piston engine