Bantam B20 Microlight Aircraft [ZK-FMF]
Maker and role
Micro Aviation (N.Z.) Limited, Manufacturer
Production date
1986
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
2022.10
Production period
Description
Bantam B20 Microlight Aircraft.
The aircraft comprises of a small body, painted white, which holds a single black seat. The body is held on three wheels, one placed at the front of the aircraft, the remaining two at the rear. Embossed on both sides of the front tyre is: “TUBE TYPE (260 X 85) 3.00-4 / K-301 I-E-Z-001 / 41023017 / 4 PLY RATING / MAX. INFLATION 60 P.S.I. 4.000 / N.H.S. / KENDA / MADE IN CHINA / NYLON”. Embossed on the rear left tyre is: “(260 X 85) 3.00-4 / K-301 I-E-4-002 / 02043052 / 4 PLY RATING / 2275 / MAX. INFLATION 60 P.S.I. (4.0bar) / N.H.S. / KENDA / MADE IN CHINA”. Embossed on the rear right tyre is: “TUBE TYPE (260 X 85) 3.00-4 / K-301 I-E-4-004 / 32023145 / 4 PLY RATING / MAX. INFLATION 60 P.S.I. (s4.0bar) / N.H.S. / KENDA / MADE IN CHINA / NYLON”.
At the nose of the plane is a silver tube which protrudes from the tip of the nose. A clear visor is placed at the front of the plane. The interior of the body holds a single black seat, with two black and silver levers on each side of the seat. The lever on the right-hand side has a “P” engraved into the rubber. A black seatbelt connects from either side of the seat.
In front of the seat, underneath the visor is the dashboard. On the left-hand side of the dashboard is the altimeter, with printed white text, “1000 FEET / 1000 FEET / ALTITUDE / CALIBRATED TO / 20.000 FEET”. Above this is a small plaque which reads “FMF” in white. Beneath the altimeter is a sticker which reads, “TMPFIHC / BUMFH / CUP / SAFEME”. A small black dial and another smaller gauge sit below this. Behind the dashboard are two stickers, one is blue with white text, “Supplied by…. / AEROWARE / Aerospace Hardware Suppliers Limited / PO BOX 302-505, North Harbour, Auckland / Ph. 09 476 0984 Fax: 09476 0985 / Email: aeroware@ihug.co.nz”. Below this is a white sticker, partially covered, “FALCON GUAGE / [?]”.
In the centre of the dashboard is a large tube with various measurements for measuring m.p.h. A black cable connects this to a small electronic box on the right-hand side of the dashboard which has printed white text, “QUARTZ / TACH/HOUR METER / S2 / S1”. A small sticker on the top of this box reads, “TACHHOUR lvll 11 R / Standard / MADE IN CHINA”. Beneath this box are two small exhaust gas temperature gauges, which both have “E.G.T / X100” printed in white.
Beneath the dashboard are two silver foot pedals. To the left of the pedals is black fabric pocket which has been attached to the interior of the aircraft, which holds a spare plastic tube. To the right of the pedals is a compass with “SUUNTO” printed in black. A small white sticker is stuck to the interior body, which has black text, “Sport / Aviation / Corp Ltd / SAC ANNUAL CONDITION INSPECTION / NEXT ANNUAL / INSPECTION DUE: / A/C TYPE: / ZK: / INSPEC NAME: / INSP NO: / SIGNED: / DATE: / FORM NO: / REF SAC EXPOSITION SEC 7, 3-5”. Hand-written in black pen next to the headings is, “16 APRIL 2020 / BANTAM B20 / FMF / NOEL BAILEY / 027 / [signature] / 16/4/19 / 5167”. There is a window-shaped cut-out on the floor of the body, exposing the ground below. Zipties hold the floor panel in place.
A silver bars runs around the interior of the body forming the frame of the aircraft. The frame has a series of connecting bars leading upwards to connect to the engine, wings and tail of the aircraft. Sitting behind the pilot’s seat is a black gas tank, placed in a black frame and held to the aircraft with a red ratchet strap, with black printed text, “REROFRST” repeated across the strap. The gas tank has two yellow caps and a red sticker on the front which reads, “FLAMMABLE / LIQUID / 3/ FUEL SAFE / FUEL SAFE / FUEL SAFE / FUEL SAFE”. Embossed in black on both sides of the tank is, “WARNING / FUEL ONLY FLAMMABLE / 20L / FLAMMABLE – VAPOUR MAY CAUSE FLASH FIRE. / KEEP OUT OF REACH CHILDREN. / KEEP CONTAINER AWAY FROM SOURCE OF IGNITION. / DO NOT FILL BEYOND MARKED FILLING LEVEL. / NOT SUITABLE FOR ALL RACING FUELS. / STORE AWAY FROM DIRECT SUNLIGHT. / DO NOT LEAVE IN ENCLOSED UNVENTILATED SPACES. / PLACE CONTAINER ON GROUND WHEN FILLING. / AND ENSURE FILLING NOZZLE CONTACTS / THE CONTAINER DURING FILLING.” and “PORTABLE FUEL CONTAINER / COMPLIES WITH AS2906 / APPROVAL No. 20105 NZ LAB8366 / DANGEROUS GOOD APPROVED / UN 3H1/Y1.2/180/09/AUS/20101”. A clear hose runs from the top of the tank to the frame of the aircraft and is connected with masking tape. Engraved text on the handle of the fuel tank reads, “C210228”. A small pipe connected on one side of the tank runs from the top of the tank to the bottom. At the bottom of the fuel tank are two hoses, one has printed white text, “7.5 MM. / 18039”. This hose is cut off at one end. The other hose is marked, “’3/8” ID FUEL HOSE 1 048643-92A85-5”. This connects to a black hand pump which has embossed text, “[arrow] FLOW [arrow] / Scepter”, which is repeated around the surface of the pump.
The rear wheels of the plane are fitted onto a fibreglass axle which is bolted to the frame. A small metal maker’s plate on the left-hand side of the plane, located next to the seat, reads, “BANTAM B 20 / SER NO 0030 / REG ZK F M F / MAANZ NO 339”. On either side of the plane are four cables which connect to the wings of the aircraft.
Above the pilot’s seat, the frame connects to a large bar which runs the length of the aircraft. Attached to this at the front of the plane above the nose is the engine. The engine consists of a silver body which can be ignited with a black handle. The handle has embossed text, “ROTAX / MADE IN / AUSTRIA / 852 175”. At the front of the engine is a black propeller with three blades. Embossed on the back of each blade is the text, “3100 RPM MAX”. The engine consists of various parts and has as series of cables which run through the plane via the main structure. “BING / 54” is embossed on the engine body.
On either side of the top of the frame is two large wings, consisting of a metal structure lined with canvas. The canvas is coloured in a three-stripe formation, with fluorescent orange on the sides and a fluorescent yellow stripe down the middle. The canvas wings are connected together with four ratchet straps across the frame. Running the length of the frame is a black lever which controls the wing flaps. Hand-written on the top of the left-hand wing is the text, “[circle] / 4/19”. Connected to the front of the left-hand wing is a small fluorescent yellow flag. The top of the frame has two bars which form an apex, and has four cables, two on each side, which run down and connect to the wings.
The rear of the frame connects two smaller bars from the body of the plane to the larger bar running across the top to form the tail structure. The tail consists of a fluorescent orange vertical stabiliser and two horizontal stabilisers. Connected to these are fluorescent yellow elevators and the rudder. Printed in black across both sides of the tail is “FMF”.
The aircraft comprises of a small body, painted white, which holds a single black seat. The body is held on three wheels, one placed at the front of the aircraft, the remaining two at the rear. Embossed on both sides of the front tyre is: “TUBE TYPE (260 X 85) 3.00-4 / K-301 I-E-Z-001 / 41023017 / 4 PLY RATING / MAX. INFLATION 60 P.S.I. 4.000 / N.H.S. / KENDA / MADE IN CHINA / NYLON”. Embossed on the rear left tyre is: “(260 X 85) 3.00-4 / K-301 I-E-4-002 / 02043052 / 4 PLY RATING / 2275 / MAX. INFLATION 60 P.S.I. (4.0bar) / N.H.S. / KENDA / MADE IN CHINA”. Embossed on the rear right tyre is: “TUBE TYPE (260 X 85) 3.00-4 / K-301 I-E-4-004 / 32023145 / 4 PLY RATING / MAX. INFLATION 60 P.S.I. (s4.0bar) / N.H.S. / KENDA / MADE IN CHINA / NYLON”.
At the nose of the plane is a silver tube which protrudes from the tip of the nose. A clear visor is placed at the front of the plane. The interior of the body holds a single black seat, with two black and silver levers on each side of the seat. The lever on the right-hand side has a “P” engraved into the rubber. A black seatbelt connects from either side of the seat.
In front of the seat, underneath the visor is the dashboard. On the left-hand side of the dashboard is the altimeter, with printed white text, “1000 FEET / 1000 FEET / ALTITUDE / CALIBRATED TO / 20.000 FEET”. Above this is a small plaque which reads “FMF” in white. Beneath the altimeter is a sticker which reads, “TMPFIHC / BUMFH / CUP / SAFEME”. A small black dial and another smaller gauge sit below this. Behind the dashboard are two stickers, one is blue with white text, “Supplied by…. / AEROWARE / Aerospace Hardware Suppliers Limited / PO BOX 302-505, North Harbour, Auckland / Ph. 09 476 0984 Fax: 09476 0985 / Email: aeroware@ihug.co.nz”. Below this is a white sticker, partially covered, “FALCON GUAGE / [?]”.
In the centre of the dashboard is a large tube with various measurements for measuring m.p.h. A black cable connects this to a small electronic box on the right-hand side of the dashboard which has printed white text, “QUARTZ / TACH/HOUR METER / S2 / S1”. A small sticker on the top of this box reads, “TACHHOUR lvll 11 R / Standard / MADE IN CHINA”. Beneath this box are two small exhaust gas temperature gauges, which both have “E.G.T / X100” printed in white.
Beneath the dashboard are two silver foot pedals. To the left of the pedals is black fabric pocket which has been attached to the interior of the aircraft, which holds a spare plastic tube. To the right of the pedals is a compass with “SUUNTO” printed in black. A small white sticker is stuck to the interior body, which has black text, “Sport / Aviation / Corp Ltd / SAC ANNUAL CONDITION INSPECTION / NEXT ANNUAL / INSPECTION DUE: / A/C TYPE: / ZK: / INSPEC NAME: / INSP NO: / SIGNED: / DATE: / FORM NO: / REF SAC EXPOSITION SEC 7, 3-5”. Hand-written in black pen next to the headings is, “16 APRIL 2020 / BANTAM B20 / FMF / NOEL BAILEY / 027 / [signature] / 16/4/19 / 5167”. There is a window-shaped cut-out on the floor of the body, exposing the ground below. Zipties hold the floor panel in place.
A silver bars runs around the interior of the body forming the frame of the aircraft. The frame has a series of connecting bars leading upwards to connect to the engine, wings and tail of the aircraft. Sitting behind the pilot’s seat is a black gas tank, placed in a black frame and held to the aircraft with a red ratchet strap, with black printed text, “REROFRST” repeated across the strap. The gas tank has two yellow caps and a red sticker on the front which reads, “FLAMMABLE / LIQUID / 3/ FUEL SAFE / FUEL SAFE / FUEL SAFE / FUEL SAFE”. Embossed in black on both sides of the tank is, “WARNING / FUEL ONLY FLAMMABLE / 20L / FLAMMABLE – VAPOUR MAY CAUSE FLASH FIRE. / KEEP OUT OF REACH CHILDREN. / KEEP CONTAINER AWAY FROM SOURCE OF IGNITION. / DO NOT FILL BEYOND MARKED FILLING LEVEL. / NOT SUITABLE FOR ALL RACING FUELS. / STORE AWAY FROM DIRECT SUNLIGHT. / DO NOT LEAVE IN ENCLOSED UNVENTILATED SPACES. / PLACE CONTAINER ON GROUND WHEN FILLING. / AND ENSURE FILLING NOZZLE CONTACTS / THE CONTAINER DURING FILLING.” and “PORTABLE FUEL CONTAINER / COMPLIES WITH AS2906 / APPROVAL No. 20105 NZ LAB8366 / DANGEROUS GOOD APPROVED / UN 3H1/Y1.2/180/09/AUS/20101”. A clear hose runs from the top of the tank to the frame of the aircraft and is connected with masking tape. Engraved text on the handle of the fuel tank reads, “C210228”. A small pipe connected on one side of the tank runs from the top of the tank to the bottom. At the bottom of the fuel tank are two hoses, one has printed white text, “7.5 MM. / 18039”. This hose is cut off at one end. The other hose is marked, “’3/8” ID FUEL HOSE 1 048643-92A85-5”. This connects to a black hand pump which has embossed text, “[arrow] FLOW [arrow] / Scepter”, which is repeated around the surface of the pump.
The rear wheels of the plane are fitted onto a fibreglass axle which is bolted to the frame. A small metal maker’s plate on the left-hand side of the plane, located next to the seat, reads, “BANTAM B 20 / SER NO 0030 / REG ZK F M F / MAANZ NO 339”. On either side of the plane are four cables which connect to the wings of the aircraft.
Above the pilot’s seat, the frame connects to a large bar which runs the length of the aircraft. Attached to this at the front of the plane above the nose is the engine. The engine consists of a silver body which can be ignited with a black handle. The handle has embossed text, “ROTAX / MADE IN / AUSTRIA / 852 175”. At the front of the engine is a black propeller with three blades. Embossed on the back of each blade is the text, “3100 RPM MAX”. The engine consists of various parts and has as series of cables which run through the plane via the main structure. “BING / 54” is embossed on the engine body.
On either side of the top of the frame is two large wings, consisting of a metal structure lined with canvas. The canvas is coloured in a three-stripe formation, with fluorescent orange on the sides and a fluorescent yellow stripe down the middle. The canvas wings are connected together with four ratchet straps across the frame. Running the length of the frame is a black lever which controls the wing flaps. Hand-written on the top of the left-hand wing is the text, “[circle] / 4/19”. Connected to the front of the left-hand wing is a small fluorescent yellow flag. The top of the frame has two bars which form an apex, and has four cables, two on each side, which run down and connect to the wings.
The rear of the frame connects two smaller bars from the body of the plane to the larger bar running across the top to form the tail structure. The tail consists of a fluorescent orange vertical stabiliser and two horizontal stabilisers. Connected to these are fluorescent yellow elevators and the rudder. Printed in black across both sides of the tail is “FMF”.
Brief History
Microlight flying emerged as a cheaper way for people to pursue recreational powered flight. Typically, the aircraft and insurance cost a lot less than other light airplanes. In New Zealand, the cost of licensing is also more accessible in this category and pilots can maintain their own aircraft and engine to a point.
This microlight is a single seat Bantam B20 manufactured by Micro Aviation NZ in Te Kowhai, Waikato in 1986. It is number 39 of around 40 B20s produced around the same time the company started producing two-seater B22 Bantams. The company sold more than 350 of these models both locally and abroad. This aircraft was fondly nicknamed ‘the egg’ by its last owner because of its egg-shaped fuselage. It saw a long life of leisure use and contemporizes the MOTAT Collection, having flown as recently as February 2020.
Max Clear founded Micro Aviation NZ and operated out of the privately owned airfield in Te Kowhai, which the family sold in 2016 after Clear’s passing in 2011. Clear designed the Bantam after a trip to the United States where he inspected different ultralight aircraft being made there. The Bantam is designed after the American ‘Phantom’ microlight still in production as of 2022 by Phantom Aeronautics.
Like the Phantom, the Bantam falls in the ultralight category and is a conventional three-axis controlled machine with a rudder, ailerons, and an elevator. The other type of microlight flying is through weight-shift control, where the pilot uses a triangular control bar attached to the wing structure. This latter type is more closely associated to hang gliding whereas the former is a conventional control system for fixed wing aircraft.
This microlight is a single seat Bantam B20 manufactured by Micro Aviation NZ in Te Kowhai, Waikato in 1986. It is number 39 of around 40 B20s produced around the same time the company started producing two-seater B22 Bantams. The company sold more than 350 of these models both locally and abroad. This aircraft was fondly nicknamed ‘the egg’ by its last owner because of its egg-shaped fuselage. It saw a long life of leisure use and contemporizes the MOTAT Collection, having flown as recently as February 2020.
Max Clear founded Micro Aviation NZ and operated out of the privately owned airfield in Te Kowhai, which the family sold in 2016 after Clear’s passing in 2011. Clear designed the Bantam after a trip to the United States where he inspected different ultralight aircraft being made there. The Bantam is designed after the American ‘Phantom’ microlight still in production as of 2022 by Phantom Aeronautics.
Like the Phantom, the Bantam falls in the ultralight category and is a conventional three-axis controlled machine with a rudder, ailerons, and an elevator. The other type of microlight flying is through weight-shift control, where the pilot uses a triangular control bar attached to the wing structure. This latter type is more closely associated to hang gliding whereas the former is a conventional control system for fixed wing aircraft.
Marks
TUBE TYPE (260 X 85) 3.00-4 / K-301 I-E-Z-001 / 41023017 / 4 PLY RATING / MAX. INFLATION 60 P.S.I. 4.000 / N.H.S. / KENDA / MADE IN CHINA / NYLON Embossed
(260 X 85) 3.00-4 / K-301 I-E-4-002 / 02043052 / 4 PLY RATING / 2275 / MAX. INFLATION 60 P.S.I. (4.0bar) / N.H.S. / KENDA / MADE IN CHINA Embossed
TUBE TYPE (260 X 85) 3.00-4 / K-301 I-E-4-004 / 32023145 / 4 PLY RATING / MAX. INFLATION 60 P.S.I. (s4.0bar) / N.H.S. / KENDA / MADE IN CHINA / NYLON Embossed
P Engraved
1000 FEET / 1000 FEET / ALTITUDE / CALIBRATED TO / 20.000 FEET Printed
FMF Engraved
TMPFIHC / BUMFH / CUP / SAFEME Sticker
Supplied by…. / AEROWARE / Aerospace Hardware Suppliers Limited / PO BOX 302-505, North Harbour, Auckland / Ph. 09 476 0984 Fax: 09476 0985 / Email: aeroware@ihug.co.nz Sticker
FALCON GUAGE / [?] Sticker
QUARTZ / TACH/HOUR METER / S2 / S1 Printed
TACHHOUR lvll 11 R / Standard / MADE IN CHINA Sticker
E.G.T / X100 Printed
SUUNTO Printed
Sport / Aviation / Corp Ltd / SAC ANNUAL CONDITION INSPECTION / NEXT ANNUAL / INSPECTION DUE: / A/C TYPE: / ZK: / INSPEC NAME: / INSP NO: / SIGNED: / DATE: / FORM NO: / REF SAC EXPOSITION SEC 7, 3-5 Sticker
16 APRIL 2020 / BANTAM B20 / FMF / NOEL BAILEY / 027 / [signature] / 16/4/19 / 5167 Hand-written
REROFRST Printed
FLAMMABLE / LIQUID / 3/ FUEL SAFE / FUEL SAFE / FUEL SAFE / FUEL SAFE Sticker
WARNING / FUEL ONLY FLAMMABLE / 20L / FLAMMABLE – VAPOUR MAY CAUSE FLASH FIRE. / KEEP OUT OF REACH CHILDREN. / KEEP CONTAINER AWAY FROM SOURCE OF IGNITION. / DO NOT FILL BEYOND MARKED FILLING LEVEL. / NOT SUITABLE FOR ALL RACING FUELS. / STORE AWAY FROM DIRECT SUNLIGHT. / DO NOT LEAVE IN ENCLOSED UNVENTILATED SPACES. / PLACE CONTAINER ON GROUND WHEN FILLING. / AND ENSURE FILLING NOZZLE CONTACTS / THE CONTAINER DURING FILLING. Embossed
PORTABLE FUEL CONTAINER / COMPLIES WITH AS2906 / APPROVAL No. 20105 NZ LAB8366 / DANGEROUS GOOD APPROVED / UN 3H1/Y1.2/180/09/AUS/20101 Embossed
C210228 Engraved
7.5 MM. / 18039 Printed
’3/8” ID FUEL HOSE 1 048643-92A85-5 Printed
[arrow] FLOW [arrow] / Scepter Embossed
BANTAM B 20 / SER NO 0030 / REG ZK F M F / MAANZ NO 339 Maker's Mark
ROTAX / MADE IN / AUSTRIA / 852 175 Embossed
3100 RPM MAX Embossed
BING / 54 Embossed
[circle] / 4/19 Hand-written
FMF Printed
(260 X 85) 3.00-4 / K-301 I-E-4-002 / 02043052 / 4 PLY RATING / 2275 / MAX. INFLATION 60 P.S.I. (4.0bar) / N.H.S. / KENDA / MADE IN CHINA Embossed
TUBE TYPE (260 X 85) 3.00-4 / K-301 I-E-4-004 / 32023145 / 4 PLY RATING / MAX. INFLATION 60 P.S.I. (s4.0bar) / N.H.S. / KENDA / MADE IN CHINA / NYLON Embossed
P Engraved
1000 FEET / 1000 FEET / ALTITUDE / CALIBRATED TO / 20.000 FEET Printed
FMF Engraved
TMPFIHC / BUMFH / CUP / SAFEME Sticker
Supplied by…. / AEROWARE / Aerospace Hardware Suppliers Limited / PO BOX 302-505, North Harbour, Auckland / Ph. 09 476 0984 Fax: 09476 0985 / Email: aeroware@ihug.co.nz Sticker
FALCON GUAGE / [?] Sticker
QUARTZ / TACH/HOUR METER / S2 / S1 Printed
TACHHOUR lvll 11 R / Standard / MADE IN CHINA Sticker
E.G.T / X100 Printed
SUUNTO Printed
Sport / Aviation / Corp Ltd / SAC ANNUAL CONDITION INSPECTION / NEXT ANNUAL / INSPECTION DUE: / A/C TYPE: / ZK: / INSPEC NAME: / INSP NO: / SIGNED: / DATE: / FORM NO: / REF SAC EXPOSITION SEC 7, 3-5 Sticker
16 APRIL 2020 / BANTAM B20 / FMF / NOEL BAILEY / 027 / [signature] / 16/4/19 / 5167 Hand-written
REROFRST Printed
FLAMMABLE / LIQUID / 3/ FUEL SAFE / FUEL SAFE / FUEL SAFE / FUEL SAFE Sticker
WARNING / FUEL ONLY FLAMMABLE / 20L / FLAMMABLE – VAPOUR MAY CAUSE FLASH FIRE. / KEEP OUT OF REACH CHILDREN. / KEEP CONTAINER AWAY FROM SOURCE OF IGNITION. / DO NOT FILL BEYOND MARKED FILLING LEVEL. / NOT SUITABLE FOR ALL RACING FUELS. / STORE AWAY FROM DIRECT SUNLIGHT. / DO NOT LEAVE IN ENCLOSED UNVENTILATED SPACES. / PLACE CONTAINER ON GROUND WHEN FILLING. / AND ENSURE FILLING NOZZLE CONTACTS / THE CONTAINER DURING FILLING. Embossed
PORTABLE FUEL CONTAINER / COMPLIES WITH AS2906 / APPROVAL No. 20105 NZ LAB8366 / DANGEROUS GOOD APPROVED / UN 3H1/Y1.2/180/09/AUS/20101 Embossed
C210228 Engraved
7.5 MM. / 18039 Printed
’3/8” ID FUEL HOSE 1 048643-92A85-5 Printed
[arrow] FLOW [arrow] / Scepter Embossed
BANTAM B 20 / SER NO 0030 / REG ZK F M F / MAANZ NO 339 Maker's Mark
ROTAX / MADE IN / AUSTRIA / 852 175 Embossed
3100 RPM MAX Embossed
BING / 54 Embossed
[circle] / 4/19 Hand-written
FMF Printed
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Micro Aviation (N.Z.) Limited. 1986. Bantam B20 Microlight Aircraft [ZK-FMF], 2022.10. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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