Country of origin:

United Kingdom

Description:

Three-seat touring biplane

Power Plant:

One 149 kw (200 hp) Bentley BR.2 nine-cylinder rotary piston engine

Specifications:

History:

The Gnu was introduced in 1919 by the Sopwith Aviation Co of Canbury Park Road, Kingston-on-Thames, as a three-seat touring biplane or taxi aircraft with an enclosed cabin for the two passengers, although the enclosed cabin was found to be very cramped and was not popular, so most were operated with an open cockpit.  It was of wooden construction with fabric covering and was fitted with three basic engines, the 149 kw (200 hp) Bentley BR.2, the 75 kw (100 hp) Le Rhone rotary, or the 224 kw (300 hp) Wright Whirlwind J-5.

The prototype (K-101 – c/n A-16, later G-EAAH) preceded 12 production aircraft, being flown by Ausralian aviator Harry G Hawker, with his wife as a passenger, on 29 May 1919 from Brooklands in Surrey to Hendon in London for a reception given to crews of the American Trans-Atlantic flying-boats NC-1, NC-2 and NC-4.  An auction was held to take flights in the aircraft, the first going to a Ms Daisy King for 60 guineas. The machine was destroyed during a photographic flight shortly thereafter at Southport in north-western England.

At least two examples were brought to this region. The first (G-AUBX – c/n 2976/5 – ex G-EAHQ, K-169) was imported by the Larkin Aircraft Supply Co and registered to J R Fullarton, trading as Fulham Air Transport of Elwood, VIC on 29 June 1921.  It was initially powered by the 82 kw (110 hp) Le Rhone rotary engine but at some stage this was replaced by a 149 kw (200 hp) Bentley BR.2 nine-cylinder rotary engine.  It was said to be written off in a crash near Wycheproof, VIC on 30 August 1921 when it was owned by Fulham Air Transport.  Some records indicate it may have been rebuilt as it is also noted as being written off in a take-off accident at Mildura, VIC on 23 August 1924.

The second machine (G-AUBY – c/n 2976/6 – ex-G-EAIL) was built in 1925 and had the longest life of the type here.  Fitted with a Le Rhone rotary engine,, and also imported by the Larkin Aircraft Supply Co, it saw service with Australian Aerial Services Ltd, being registered to Larkin Aircraft Supply Co and named Sunbird on 28 June 1921.  It crashed at Balranald, NSW on 23 May 1924.  It was rebuilt and made a test flight on 24 May the following year.  It was sold to Keith R Farmer of Malvern, VIC on 23 October 1928 and in the following year had the engine replaced by a 149 kw (200 hp) Wright Whirlwind J-5A radial.

The aircraft was an entrant in the September 1924 East – West Air Race, piloted by Mr Farmer, coming 11th.  In 1924 it won the speed section of the Australian Aerial Derby at Mascot, NSW whilst flown by W “Skipper” Wilson.  In October 1932 it was flown to Laverton, WA to assist in an attempt to find Lasseters gold reef.  In March 1934 ownership was transferred to Pioneer Air Service of Melbourne, VIC and in the following year it returned to Mr K R Farmer.  In July 1945 the Department was advised the engine and propeller had been obtained by Ansett Airways and the fuselage had gone to a Mr Tay of Preston, VIC.  The last record of the aircraft was it was damaged beyond repair by a windstorm at Essendon, VIC on 19 April 1946.

A third Gnu is thought to have come to Australia.  This machine (ex-G-EAIM – c/n 3005/1) was sold to Larkin-Sopwith Aviation Co for use as spare parts. It seems it could have been completed and flown, as records indicate a Gnu, flown by F S Briggs, with Messrs de Garis and Walker on board, crashed near Berri, SA on 19 August 1920.  This machine at the time was involved in carrying bundles of  The Herald newspaper to towns between Mornington and Portarlington in Victoria when it struck telegraph wires and crashed into a paddock.