Engine

1 x Lycoming O-320-A2C with 150 HP (4 cylinder, air cooled, horizontal piston)

General Information

The original design of the Kachina was by US aircraft test pilot / aircraft designer Bill Morrisey. Morrisey started out with a wood-and-fabric light aircraft known as the 1000C Nifty in 1948.

Later on in 1958 he modified that design and transformed it into the Morrisey 2000 which was a cantilever low-wing monoplane. This design contained plain ailerons and two position wing flaps with a tricycle landing gear configuration dual controls for two seats in a tandem configuration. A total of 2 units were built and tested before a further improvement of the Morrisey 2150 was designed. This new and improved design contained a higher power plant incorporating a Lycoming O-235 producing 108 HP. By the end of 1959 9 aircraft were built.

After 1959 the design and construction rights were sold to Shinn Engineering. Shinn made improvements with a Lycoming O-320-A2C producing 150 HP. This new design was known as the Shinn 2150A and 35 were built before production ceased in 1962.

The 2150A design rights were sold in 1967 to George Varga, an aircraft parts supplier. George Varga formed the Varga Aircraft Corporation. The Varga 2150A Kachina was built in Chandler, Arizona from 1975 to 1982. In this time 121 2150A Kachina were built along with 18 models known as the Varga 2180 with a Lycoming O-360-A2D producing 180 HP. Along with these two models a tailwheel option was available and known as the 2150TG.

Bill Morrisey later re-acquired the design rights and launched a kit version of the original Morrissey 2000C.

Today the Morrisey / Shinn / Varga 2150 has produced 185 aircraft built in the factories and are widespread throughout North America, South America, and Europe.

Specific Information

Our aircraft was one of 121 built in Chandler, Arizona. After VAC-98-78 was built in 1978 she left the factory and was bought and relocated. More information to com soon.