Le Wassmer Atlantic F-BXCL des Fourquemin

Welcome/Bienvenue sur le Site du Wassmer 54 Atlantic F-BXCL
Cet avion vole désormais sous d'autres cieux.

Deja consciente de l'extraordinaire potentiel des materiaux composites, la firme WASSMER lance en 1965 l'etude d'un quadriplace a train tricycle entierement composite. Le demonstrateur WA 50 realise son premier vol le 22 mars 1966. Au meme moment, un deuxieme prototype subit au sol l'equivalent de 18.546 heures de vol.
WASSMER vient alors de realiser une premiere mondiale, demontrant ainsi son indiscutable avance dans l'utilisation des composites pour des applications structurales.
Extrapolé du WA 50, le WA 51 PACIFIC sort en 1969. Doté d'un moteur de 150 CV avec helice a pas fixe, cet avion est le premier monomoteur entierement en composites certifie au monde.
Les WA 52 EUROPA(160 CV) et WA 54 ATLANTIC(180 CV) complètent la gamme en 1971 et 1973. La societe WASSMER, alors au sommet de la gloire, emploie en 1969, 168 personnes et s'affiche comme le leader europeen des constructeurs d'avions de tourisme et de planeurs.
Le WA 54 «Atlantic»,apparu en 1973, est identique au 51 et 52 quand a son mode de construction entierement composite, mais reprends un train de Wassmer Baladou de par sa masse plus imposante. Il est equipe du moteur Lycoming O-360-A1LD de 180 CV avec helice Mc Cauley 2D36C14/78KM4 a pas variable.
Il a ete construit à 55 exemplaires au cours des annees 1973 - 1977.
Ses performances sont les suivantes:

Vitesse maximum 151 Kts(280 km/h) au niveau de la mer ;
Vitesse de croisiere à 5500ft: 140 Kts(260 km/h);
Plafond pratique 14,760 ft (4500 m);
Autonomie: 839 miles (1340 km).
Masse : empty 1,367 lb(620 kg): maximum take- off 2,491lb (1130 kg);
Dimensions: Span 30ft 10 in(9.40 m); length 24ft 7 1/4 in (7.50 m); height 7ft 5 in (2.26 m): wing area 133-48sq ft.

Vue de Face de la bete

History and Notes: Like several other manufacturers, before and since, Wassmer was intrigued with the possibilities offered by an all-plastics aircraft, and in March 1966 flew their prototype WA.50, a four seat-monoplane similar in general layout to the WA.40 series. Powerplant was a 159hp(112-k W) Avco Lycoming O-320. From the WA.50 came the first of a series of all-plastics production models, the WA.51 Pacific, flown on 17 May 1969, and bearing more ressemblance to the WA.51 prototype. The Pacific had fixed tricycle landing gear and a 150-hp 9112-k W Avco Lycoming O-320 engine; deliveries began in 1970. A generally similar WA.52 Europa was powered by a 160-hp (119-kW) engine driving a variable-pitch propeller. A third model, the WA54 Atlantic flew in February 1973 and entered production four months later. It was the most powerful of the trio, with a 180-hp(134-k W) Avco Lycoming O-360-A, and while generally similar to the Europa had more baggage space, revised landing gear coming from "Baladou" model,air intake and other improvements. By January 1977, 190 WA.51, 52 and 54's had been sold, but in September of that year Wassmer went into liquidation. The following January a new company, Issoire-Aviation, was formed at the same address, talking over Wassmer's industrial assets. by that time the only aircraft in production was the Wa.80/81 Piranha, a two/three-seater developed by Wassmer and flown in 1975. Orders for 20 had been received and 10 had been built by the time that Issoire took over, and production had to continue for this aircraft, then redesigned IA.80. Powerplant was a 100-hp (75-k W) Rolls-Royce Continental )-200-A.

The specifications apply to the WA.54 : Specifications: Type: four-seat light mono-plane .
Powerplant: one 180-hp 9134-kW ) Lycoming O-360 flat-four piston engine.
Performance: maximum speed 174 mph (280 km/h) at sea level; cruising speed 162 mph (260 km/h) at 5,500 ft (1675 m); service ceiling 14,760 ft (4500 m): range 839 miles (1340 km). Weights: empty 1,367 lb ((620 kg): maximum take- off 2,491 lb (1130 kg) Dimensions: span 30 ft 10 in (9.40 m): length 24 ft 7 1/4 in (7.50 m): height 7 ft 5 in (2.26 m): wing area 133-48 sq ft.