An incomplete list of aircraft which were designed In Australia
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 on the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority website by clicking here.
| Image | Manufacturer and Model | Details | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
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Aeronautical Engineers Australia Maverick |
First flight: 12/1987 Designer: Graham Swannell and Geoff Danes Description: Single seat low wing aerobatic aircraft. |
Aeronautical Engineers Australia website |
Image courtesy of Aeropup Aircraft, used with permission |
Aeropup Aircraft 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. |
Aeropup Aircraft website |
|
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 |
 Image courtesy of AAK, used with permission |
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. |
1. AAK website |
 Image: ALW website |
Australian Light Wing GR-912 |
First flight: Designer: Description: Two seat high wing sport aircraft. Comments: |
Australian Light Wing website |
 Image: ALW website |
Australian Light Wing SP-2000 |
First flight: Designer: Description: Two seat low wing sport aircraft. Comments: |
Australian Light Wing website |
 Image: ALW website |
Australian Light Wing Sport 2000 |
First flight: Designer: Description: Two seat high wing utility aircraft. Comments: |
Australian Light Wing website |
|
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. |
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Australian Aircraft & Engineering Company Commercial B1 |
First flight: 03/02/1923 Designer: Harry Broadsmith. Description: Single engined 4-passenger biplane. |
1. The Argus February 6, 1923 |
| 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
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Australian
Aircraft Co. Wico Lion |
First
flight: 27/05/1933 Designer: Geoffrey Wickner Description: Single seat shoulder-wing single engined sport aircraft. |
1. Brisbane Courier Mail April 30, 1934 |
| Australian
Aircraft Co. Wico Wizard |
First flight:
29/04/1934 Designer: Geoffrey Wickner Description: Single-seat single engined low-wing sport aircraft
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| 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. |
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| Broadsmith-Ross 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. |
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| Broadsmith 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. |
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 Image: Brumby Aircraft website |
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) |
1. Brumby Aircraft
Australia website |
 |
Butler ABA 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. |
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Butler 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) |
1. Photographs of the BAT-2 from the Powerhouse Museum Collection (search results) |
 Image via Bill Young, used with permission |
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 |
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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 |
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Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Wirraway Mk I (CAC contract CA-1) Wirraway Mk II (CAC contracts CA-3, 5,7, 8 & 9) Wirraway Mk III (CAC contract CA-16) |
First flight: 27/03/1939 Designers: J.H. "Dutch" Kindleberger, J.L. "Lee" Atwood and H.R. Raynor Description: 2 seat low-wing military advanced trainer Comments: The Wirraway is a license-built North American NA-16-2K advanced trainer. The Wirraway is a "cousin" to the T-6 Texan and Harvard trainers, as they were all developed from the same ancestor (the NA-16 basic trainer which first flew in 1935). |
1. DB Design Bureau technical information page |
|
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 aircraft. |
1. Wikipedia article |
 |
Commonwealth
Aircraft Corporation 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. |
1. ADF Serials website entry |
 Image: Australian War Memorial |
Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation 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. |
1. ADF Serials website entry 2. Elliptical wings article by Gary Sunderland, including the Fred David story 3.Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Boomerang restoration A46-73 |
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Commonwealth
Aircraft Corporation CA-15 |
First
flight: 03/1946 Designer: Fred David (Chief Designer) Comments: Prototype single-seat single-engined fighter aircraft. Comments: The CA-15 is sometimes referred to as the "Kangaroo", but this was not an official name. |
1. Wikipedia article |
 |
Commonwealth Aircraft
Corporation Winjeel (CA-22 & 25) |
First flight: 03/02/1951 Designer: Ian Ring (Chief Designer) Comments: 3 seat single-engined advanced training aircraft. |
1. ADF Serials website entry |
 Image courtesy of Australian National Aviation Museum |
Commonwealth
Aircraft Corporation Sabre prototype (Contract CA-26) Sabre Mk 30 (Contract CA-27) Sabre Mk 31 (Contract CA-27) Sabre Mk 32 (Contract CA-27) |
First flight: Designer: Description: Single-seat jet-powered fighter aircraft. Comments: Modified version of the North American F-86F Sabre, powered by a Rolls-Royce Avon engine (rather than the General Electric J58) and armed with two 30mm Aden cannons in place of six 50-calibre machine guns. |
1. Wikipedia article |
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Commonwealth
Aircraft Corporation Ceres (CA-28) |
First
flight: 1958 Designer: Ian Ring (Chief Designer) and J.C. Humphries Comments: Single-seat agricultural aircraft. Designed to use some Wirraway components. |
1. Wikipedia article |
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Corby Starlet |
First
flight: Designer: John Corby Description: Single seat low wing home-built sport aircraft. Comments: Designed for amateur construction |
|
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Dean Wilson Aviation Whitney Boomerang |
First flight:
06/07/2006 Desigher: C. W. "Bill" Whitney Description: 2 seat side by side tandem wing training aircraft. Comments: |
1. Dean Wilson Aviation website |
 |
De
Havilland Australia DHA-2 Drover |
First
flight: 23/01/1948 Designer: Martin Warner Description: 3-engined feeder airliner Comments: Based on the twin engined De Havilland Dove. |
1. Australian Aviation Museum
Bankstown website 2. VH-ADN on Ed Coates photo collection |
 |
Eagle
Aircraft Eagle 150 |
First
flight: March 1988 (Eagle 150A) Designer: Graham Swannell & John Roncz Description: Single engined 2 seat side by side tandem wing training aircraft. |
1. Wikipedia entry |
 Image: Aeronautical Engineers Australia website, used with permission |
Explorer
Aircraft Corporation Explorer 350 |
First
flight: Designer: Graham Swannell Description: Prototype for an 8-seat utility aircraft. Comments: Prototype built in Australia, has since gone into production in the USA. Explorer 350 is piston-engined prototype. |
1. Wikipedia entry |
 Image: Australian Aviation Museum website |
Fawcett
Aviation Fawcett 120 |
First
flight: 11/1954 Designer: Luigi Pellarini Description: Prototype 4 seat high wing training and touring aircraft Comments: Only 1 produced. Originally powered by Gypsy Major engine, converted to horizontally-opposed 4 cylinder engine. |
1. Australian Aviation Museum Bankstown website |
 Image: ABC news |
Ford Silver Centenary |
First flight:
01/07/1930 Designer: Selby Ford Description: Open cockpit 2 seat passenger biplane Comments: Home-built by Selby Ford in Beverly, Western Australia. Only 1 built (VH-USC). Restored by Rod Edwards (grandson of Selby Ford) and Rob Felton in 2006-2007, returning to the air August 2007. |
1. Wikipedia entry 2. Airways Museum & Civil Aviation Historical Society 3. Photo gallery at Grubby Fingers aircraft illustration website |
| Fox Fox Biplane |
First flight: 07/05/1931 Designers: Reg and Francis Fox Description: Single engined two-seat biplane Comments: Certificate of Airworthiness was never granted by Civil Aviation Board, but the aircraft made many flights around Melbourne and Geelong. |
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General
Aircraft Company Genairco |
First
flight: 19/12/1929 (open-cockpit version) 30/06/1932 (enclosed-cabin version) Designers: George Boehm, Albert Royal and E.J. "Jack" Smith Description: Single engined open cockpit 3 seat passenger biplane aircraft Comments: The design of the Genairco was based on the De Havilland DH60 Moth, but the Genairco was larger, carried an extra person and was 600 lbs heavier. |
1. Wikipedia entry 2. VH-UOF on Ed Coates photo collection 3. VH-UOG on Ed Coates photo collection 4. VH-UOH on Ed Coates photo collection 5. VH-UOS on Ed Coates photo collection 6. VH-UZR on Ed Coates photo collection 7. VH-UOJ on Ed Coates photo collection 8. VH-UUI on Ed Coates photo collection 9. VH-UUK on Ed Coates photo collection 10. VH-URH on Ed Coates photo collection
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Gippsland
Aeronautics Fatman (GA-200) |
First
flight: 1991 Designer: Colin Nicholson (Chief Designer) Description: 2 seat low wing agricultural aircraft. |
1. Gippsland Aeronautics website |
 |
Gippsland
Aeronautics GA8 Airvan GA8-TC Airvan |
First
flight: 03/03/1995 Designer: Colin Nicholson (Chief Designer) Description: 8 seat single engined high wing utility aircraft Comments: The GA8-TC is powered with a turbocharged engine |
1. Wikipedia entry 2. Gippsland Aeronautics website |
| Gippsland
Aeronautics GA10 |
First flight: 01/05/2012 Designer: Description: 10 seat single engined high wing utility aircraft Comments: A development based on the GA8, the GA10 is a new FAR 23 certified aircraft, powered by a Rolls Royce 250M engine. |
1. Wikipedia entry 2. Gippsland Aeronautics website |
|
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Goair Goair Trainer |
First
flight: 07/1995 Designers: Philip Goard Description: 2 seat all-metal single engined low wing training aircraft Comments: The Goair Trainer has been developed into the Brumby (see above) |
1. Image on 1000 Aircraft Photos |
|
Government Aircraft Factory Pika |
First flight: 31/10/1951 Design Team Leader: I.B. Fleming Description: Single engined low wing experimental research aircraft. Comments: The Pika was a manned prototype for flight trials of the Jindivik remotely piloted vehicle. It contained all of the remote flight control equipment of the Jindivik and could be flown from the cockpit or from a ground station. |
1. RAAF Museum website entry
3. Flight magazine April 25, 1952 |
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Government
Aircraft Factory N22 & N24 Nomad |
First
flight: 23 July 1971 Designer: Description: Twin engined high wing STOL feeder airliner & utility aircraft. |
1. Wikipedia entry 2. Flight International August 3, 1972 |
| John Gross JG-2 |
First flight: 1 April 2006 Designer: John Gross Description: 2 seat single engine jet powered retractable undercarriage low wing sport aircraft. Comments: Amateur-built jet powered aircraft, inspired by the Grumman Panther. Only one aircraft (VH-JLG) constructed. |
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Jabiru
Aircraft Pty. Ltd. J120 J160C J170C |
First
flight: Designer: Description: 2 seat single engine high wing training & aircraft. |
1. Jabiru company website |
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Jabiru
Aircraft Pty. Ltd. UL-D |
First
flight: Designer: Description: 2 seat high wing training and sport aircraft (can be home-built from a kit or factory built). |
1. Jabiru company website |
 |
Jabiru
Aircraft Pty. Ltd. J230D |
First
flight: Designer: Description: 2 seat high wing training and sport aircraft (can be home-built from a kit or factory built). |
1. Jabiru company website |
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Jabiru
Aircraft Pty. Ltd. J430 |
First
flight: 16/03/2002 (in 2-seater configuration) Designer: Description: 4 seat high wing training and sport aircraft (home-built from a kit). |
1. Jabiru company website |
| Kalgoorlie Syndicate "Kalgoorlie" Biplane |
First flight: 26/05/1915 Designer: Paul Jaentsch Description: Two seat single engined biplane Comments: Constructed by a syndicate of Kalgoorlie engineers and businessmen. |
1. Kalgoorlie biplane history on the High Beach website | |
 Image © Ben Danneker, used with permission |
Kingsford
Smith Aviation Services KS-1 KS-2 (shown in photo) |
First
flight: 28/03/1957 Designer: C.W. (Bill) Smith Description: Single seat agricultural aircraft. Comments: The KS-1 was a conversion of the Wackett Trainer for agricultural use, with a chemical hopper replacing front seat. Only 1 KS-1 was produced (VH-AJH). Following trials it was modified to KS-2 standard and finally the same airframe was further developed to become the prototype KS-3 Cropmaster. |
1. Wikipedia entry |
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Kingsford
Smith Aviation Services Cropmaster (KS-3) |
First
flight: 29/11/1957 Designer: C.W. (Bill) Smith Description: Single seat agricultural aircraft. Comments: The Cropmaster was a conversion of the Wackett Trainer for agricultural use, with a chemical hopper replacing rear seat. |
1. Wikipedia entry |
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Kingsford
Smith Aviation Services Tanker (PL7) |
First
flight: 20/09/1956 Designer: Luigi Pellarini Description: Single engined single seat agricultural biplane. Comments: Only one Tanker was produced. It was destroyed by a fire at the KSAS hangar. |
1. Flight magazine August 23, 1957 |
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Larkin
Aviation Supply Co. (LASCo) Lascondor |
First
flight: 23/03/1930 Designer: William Stancliffe Shackleton Description: 3 engined 4 place high wing feeder airliner. |
1. Wikipedia article |
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Larkin
Aviation Supply Co. (LASCo) Lascoter |
First
flight: 18/05/1929 Designer: William Stancliffe Shackleton Description: Single engined high wing survey & utility aircraft. |
1. Wikipedia entry |
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Melbourne Aircraft Corporation AA-2 Mamba |
First
flight: 25/01/1989 Designer: Description: Two seat high wing utility aircraft. Project initiated by MAC, then taken over by AIA and subsequently Australian Industrial Corporation. Two prototypes produced VH-JSA and VH-FCX (AA-2M). |
1. Listing from Jane's All The World's Aircraft |
| McKenzie Silver Wings |
First flight: 22/04/1926 Designer: Gotthilf "George" McKenzie Description: Single engined two-seat biplane |
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| Palcar Manufacturing Co. Ltd. TWA-4 |
First flight: 16/04/1939 Designer: Thomas William Air Description: Two seat (tandem) single engined low-wing monoplane aircraft Comments: Constructed by Jack Clifford "Cliff" Carpenter. Only 1 produced (VH-ACP). |
Hobart Mercury June 30,1936 | |
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RAAF
Experimental Section Widgeon I and II (Widgeon II shown in photo) |
First flight: Widgeon I - 03/12/1925 Widgeon II - 21/02/1928 Designer: Lawrence Wackett Description: Single engined amphibious biplane |
1. Wikipedia article |
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RAAF Experimental
Section Warrigal I and II (Warrigal I shown in photo) |
First flight: Warrigal - 04/12/1928 Warrigal II - 07/07/1930 Designer: Lawrence Wackett Description: Warrigal I: Two-seat single-engined advanced training biplane Warrigal II: Two-seat single-engined general-purpose biplane |
1. Wikipedia
article 2. Image of Warrigal II from the State Library of NSW (following a landing mishap) |
| Reid Flying Fox |
First flight: 1924 Designer: R.W. Reid Description: Single-seat single engined biplane sport aircraft Comments: Designed 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. Constructed by Smith & Waddington Ltd. |
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 Image from Seabird Aviation website |
Seabird Aviation SB7L-235 SB7L-360 SB7L-360A Seeker 2 |
First flight: 01/10/1985 Designer: C. W. "Bill" Whitney Description: Two-seat single-engined observation aircraft Comments: |
1. Seabird Aviation website |
 Image courtesy Australian National Aviation Museum |
Southern Cross Aviation SC-1 |
First flight: 01/03/1961 Designer: Newton D. Hodgekiss and Brian Wager Description: Single-engined two-seat low-wing sport and training monoplane Comments: The SC-1 was developed by Southern Cross Aviation Limited as a training and sport aircraft. Only one SC-1 was produced. |
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| Staig Staig monoplane |
First flight: 04/06/1931 Designer: David Staig Description: Single-engined two-seat parasol monoplane Comments: Only one Staig monoplane was produced, named "Young Australia". It was constructed by the designer in Melbourne. Design documentation was submitted for CofR but this was never issued. The aircraft had over 200 flying hours by the time it was disposed in a fire during 1941. |
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Transavia Airtruk (PL-12, PL-12U, T-320) Skyfarmer (T-300, T-300A, T-400) |
First flight: 22/04/1965 Designer: Luigi Pellarini Description: Single-engined agricultural sesquiplane Comments: A development of Pellarini's earlier PL-11 Airtruck design (which was developed and constructed in New Zealand by Bennet Aviation/Waitomo Aircraft). |
1. Wikipedia article
2. VH-TRN at Powerhouse Museum 3. History and development of the earlier PL-11 Airtruck
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Tugan Aircraft LJW.7 Gannet |
First flight: Designer: Lawrence Wackett Description: Twin-engined high wing passenger aircraft Comments: |
1.
VH-UVY on Ed Coates photo collection 2. VH-UUZ on Ed Coates photo collection 3. VH-UVU on Ed Coates photo collection 4. VH-UXE on Ed Coates photo collection |
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Victa Airtourer |
First flight: 10/04/1959 Designer: Henry Millicer Description: Two-seat single engined training and light sport aircraft |
1. Victa Airtourer Association |
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Victa Aircruiser |
First flight: 18/07/1966 Designer: Henry Millicer Description: Four-seat single engined training and light sport aircraft Comments: Developed from the Airtouer. Only 1 constructed (VH-MVR). Design rights were sold to Aero Engine Services Limited (AESL) in New Zealand, who redesigned the Aircruiser and placed it into production as the CT-4 Airtrainer. |
1. Wikipedia entry |
 Image © Ken McGowan. Used with permission |
Victa R2 |
First flight: Designer: Luigi Pellarini Description: Four-seat single engined touring aircraft |
1. More details on the Victa R2 |
| Wackett Warbler |
First flight: Designer: Lawrence Wackett Description: Two-seat single-engined pusher parasol monoplane sport aircraft |
1. Flight Magazine February 12, 1925 | |
| Wonga | First flight:
04/06/1930 Designer: L.J.R. Jones Description: Single engined four-seat high wing aircraft Comments: Constructed by Nigel P. Boulton and L.J.R. Jones. First Australian-designed aircraft with a welded-steel fuselage framework |
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Yeoman Aviation YA-1 Cropmaster 250 YA-1 Cropmaster 250R |
First flight: Designer: C.W. (Bill) Smith Description: Single-seat low wing agricultural aircraft Comments: Based on the CAC Wackett trainer, the Cropmaster was fitted with a new metal wing and empennage, more powerful engine and redesigned fuselage. |
1. VH-ABY on Ed Coates photo collection |