The Barber Snark is a two-seater kit-plane, designed and built in New Zealand by Bill Barber.^[1] It first flew in late 1987. Only some five aircraft have been built.

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Quick Facts Role, National origin ...

Barber Snark
Role	Light aircraft
National origin	New Zealand
Manufacturer	homebuilt
Designer	Bill Barber
First flight	1987
Status	Production discontinued
Number built	about 5

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The Snark is a tricycle aircraft of composite construction. Its glider-like cockpit accommodates a pilot and passenger in tandem, the passenger sitting behind and higher than the pilot. The centrally mounted shoulder-wing lies behind the pilot, who has unrestricted visibility. The 80 hp (60 kW) Suzuki engine is sited behind the cockpit, driving a pusher propeller. Wing control surfaces on the third Snark were flaperons, while the fourth aircraft had conventional ailerons and flaps.^[2] Above the propeller, and aft of the cockpit is a slender boom to the empennage comprising a T-tail with a high-mounted tailplane.

The Snark's tandem layout, its small frontal area, and its low wetted area mean that the aircraft has excellent performance, being able to cruise at over 110 knots despite having an engine output of only 80 bhp.

The Snark received positive reviews in the UK and NZ press. Former RNZAF Squadron Leader and aviation journalist Tim Cripps wrote in Pilot magazine, "this is the most enjoyable of the many aircraft I have flown - and that includes the Hunter". Similarly, David Laing, a former WWII pilot who built the fourth Snark, declared it to be "one of the nicest planes I've ever flown".^[1]

Data from Treweek^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: one passenger
• Length: 6.24 m (20 ft 6 in)
• Wingspan: 9.3 m (30 ft 6 in)
• Height: 2.43 m (8 ft 0 in)
• Empty weight: 331 kg (730 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 520 kg (1,146 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 55 litres (15 US gal) usable
• Powerplant: 1 × Suzuki G13 four stroke, 60 kW (80 hp)

Performance

• Cruise speed: 205 km/h (127 mph, 111 kn)
• Stall speed: 61 km/h (38 mph, 33 kn) with flaps
• Never exceed speed: 225 km/h (140 mph, 121 kn)
• Range: 1,040 km (650 mi, 560 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 3,658 m (12,001 ft)
• Rate of climb: 7.12 m/s (1,402 ft/min)