In an attempt to document all the aircraft which were designed in Australia, I present the following incomplete list (incomplete, because I’m sure I have not managed to cover every aircraft designed in Australia yet, and because plenty of people will have more information than me – which I will gladly add to the list!). So far, the list stands at more than 60 aircraft…
First, some definitions of what this list is intended to cover:
- The aircraft on this list must have been designed in Australia, built in Australia, and flown successfully.
- This list covers primarily aircraft which have been given airworthiness certificates, approved for VH- registration or accepted into military service (there are separate lists for gliders, ultralight & recreational aircraft and helicopters), but I have listed several aircraft for which applications were made but but were not granted CoA’s for various reasons.
- The list does not cover overseas designs which were produced in Australia, unless there was significant redesign or adaptation required (the CAC CA-27 Sabre is an example of this case, where a different engine and armament selection required redesign of more than 50% of the airframe).
- This is only intended as a list (not a detailed history of each aircraft). Follow the links in the right hand column (where available) for more information about the aircraft.
For reference, you can see a current list of type certificates for Australian-manufactured aircraft on the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority website by clicking here.
Aeronautical Engineers Australia
Maverick
First flight: 12/1987
Designer: Graham Swannell and Geoff Danes
Description: Single seat low wing aerobatic aircraft.
Aeropup
Supapup Mk VI
Supapup Mk.4
First flight:
Designer: John Cotton
Description: Two seat high wing home-built recreational aircraft.
Comments: Developed from the earlier single-seat Supapup Mk.1, Mk.2 and Mk.3 models, the two-seat Supapup can be constructed to meet VH registration requirements.
Aircraft Manufacturing and Supply Co.
AMSCO Sport Monoplane
First flight: 02/06/1929
Designer: Percival “Perc” Pratt
Description: Single seat high wing parasol sport aircraft.
Comments: Only 1 built (VH-UKZ) and formal Certificate of Airworthiness was never granted. VH-UKZ on Ed Coates photo collection
Australian Aircraft Kits
Hornet STOL / Hornet AG
First flight:
Designer: Ole Hartmann
Description: Four-seat high-wing utility aircraft.
Comments: The Hornet AG is a high-lift version of the Hornet STOL for utility and agricultural use. AAK sells kits for amateur construction.
Australian Light Wing
GR-912
First flight:
Designer:
Description: Two seat high wing sport aircraft.
Light Wing SP-2000
First flight:
Designer:
Description: Two seat low wing sport aircraft.
Sport 2000
First flight:
Designer:
Description: Two seat high wing utility aircraft.
Australite
Ultrabat
First flight:
Designer: Graham Swanell, based on a concept by George Markey
Prototype built by: Scott Winton & George Markey
Description: Single seat single-engine mid-wing sport aerobatic aircraft
Comments: The Ultrabat was developed from the Winton Sapphire ultralight aircraft, and is intended to be a fully aerobatic aircraft.
Australian Aircraft & Engineering Company
Commercial B1
First flight: 03/02/1923
Designer: Harry Broadsmith.
Description: Single engined 4-passenger biplane.
Australian Aircraft Co.
Cabin Sports
First flight: 25/01/1931
Designer: Geoffrey Wickner
Description: 2 seat high wing sport plane
Comments: 1. Details of VH-UPW (replica) at Queensland Aviation Museum website
Wico Lion
First flight: 27/05/1933
Designer: Geoffrey Wickner
Description: Single seat shoulder-wing single engined sport aircraft.
Wico Wizard
First flight: 29/04/1934
Designer: Geoffrey Wickner
Description: Single-seat single engined low-wing sport aircraft
Broadsmith-Ross
B2
First flight: 1924
Designer: Harry Broadsmith
Description: Single-seat single engined biplane sport aircraft
Comments: Designed for Hector Ross (who carried out most of the construction) as an entry in the Australian Aero Club’s 1924 Lightplane Competition at Richmond (NSW). No Certificate of Airworthiness was issued, but the aircraft was required to pass an airworthiness inspection by the Technical Committee of the Club.
Broadsmith
B3
First flight: 1924
Designer: Harry Broadsmith
Description: Single-seat single engined low-wing sport aircraft
Comments: Designed for Hector Ross (who carried out most of the construction) as an entry in the Australian Aero Club’s 1924 Lightplane Competition at Richmond (NSW). No Certificate of Airworthiness was issued, but the aircraft was required to pass an airworthiness inspection by the Technical Committee of the Club.
B4
First flight: 1924
Designer: Harry Broadsmith
Description: Single-seat single engined biplane sport aircraft
Comments: Designed for Denzil MacArthur-Onslow as an entry in the Australian Aero Club’s 1924 Lightplane Competition at Richmond (NSW). No Certificate of Airworthiness was issued, but the aircraft was required to pass an airworthiness inspection by the Technical Committee of the Club.
Brumby Aircraft Australia
Brumby 600
First flight:
Designer:
Description: 2 seat single-engined low-wing trainer and light sport aircraft
Comments: Developed from the Goair Trainer (see below)
Butler
ABA-1 Monoplane
First flight: 07/10/1930
Designer: Cecil Arthur Butler
Description: Single engine single-seat strut-braced high wing parasol aircraft.
Comments: Registration VH-UPE was allocated but a Certificate of Airworthiness was never granted as the aircraft was damaged on its flight from Cootamundra to Melbourne for inspection and trials.
BAT-2
First flight: 22/07/1937
Designer: Cecil Arthur Butler
Description: Two seat (side-by-side) single engine strut-braced high wing cabin monoplane aircraft.
Comments: Only 1 produced (VH-ARG)
Carpenter
Carpenter Monoplane
First flight: 1933
Designer: Jack Clifford “Cliff” Carpenter
Description: Two seat (tandem) single engine high-wing cabin monoplane aircraft
Comments: Constructed by “Cliff” Carpenter. Only 1 produced. 1. A Very Short War – Documentary about the life of Cliff Carpenter
Cockatoo Dockyards & Engineering
LJW.6 Codock
First flight: 06/03/1934
Designer: Lawrence Wackett
Comments: Twin engined high wing airliner. Design was commissioned by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith. Only 1 produced (VH-URP). 1. Flight magazine November 16, 1933
2. VH-URP on Ed Coates photo collection
Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
Wackett Trainer (CA-2 & 6)
First flight: 19/09/1939
Designer: Lawrence Wackett
Description: Two seat single engined intermediate training aircraft.
Comments: The Wackett Trainer was designed and developed from scratch by CAC. The Wackett Trainer had the largest production run of any Australian-designed military aircraft.
Woomera (CA-4 & CA-11)
First flight: 19/09/1941
Designer: Lawrence Wackett
Description: Three seat twin engined bomber and reconnaissance aircraft.
Description: The Woomera was an innovative aircraft developed entirely by CAC.
Boomerang (CA-12, 13, 14 & 14A)
First flight: 29/05/1942
Design team:
Chief design engineer: Fred David
Design engineer: Alan Bolton
Chief draftsman: Ernie Jones
Flight testing and aerodynamics: Ian Fleming
Detail aerodynamics: Joe Solvey
Stressing: Doug Humphries
Armament: Lionel Stern
CA-14A powerplant modifications: Colin Bellwood
Project engineer: Maurie Lodge
Description: Single seat low wing fighter aircraft.
Comments: The Boomerang was developed in a very short time during World War II. It utilised some Wirraway and Woomera components.
More entries coming soon…