Photograph:
Robinson Redwing ZK-ADD (c/n RA.7) which became an Instructional Airframe with the RNZAF (RNZAF)
Country of origin:
United Kingdom
Description:
Light sport biplane
Power Plant:
One 60 kw (80 hp) Armstrong Siddeley Genet IIA five-cylinder air-cooled radial engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.29 m (30 ft 6 in)
- Length: 6.95 m (22 ft 8 in)
- Height: 2.44 m (8 ft 7 in)
- Wing area: 23.22² (250 sq ft)
- Max speed: 153 km/h (95 mph)
- Cruising speed: 137 km/h (85 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 244 m/min (800 ft/min)
- Range: 443 km (275 miles)
- Empty weight: 395 kg (870 lb)
- Loaded weight: 658 kg (1,450 lb)
History:
The Redwing was designed by John Kenworthy as a light touring biplane, being built by Robinson Aircraft Co Ltd of Stafford Road, Wallington, Surrey, UK which later in 1931 became Redwing Aircraft Co Ltd. Directed at the market for a gentleman’s aeroplane, a light aircraft with no vices, the prototype, the Mk I (G-AAUO – c/n 1), first flew in May 1930 with a 56 kw (75 hp) ABC Hornet four-cylinder horizontally-opposed engine and was first shown to the public in May 1930. This aircraft was placed into service with the Scarborough Aeroplane Club but was lost in a crash at Shoreham on 11 March 1933.
The second aircraft (G-ABDO – c/n 2) had a 60 kw (80 hp) Genet IIA radial engine, flying in October 1930, and was operated by the London General Omnibus Company Flying Club at Broxbourne but was written off after a hangar fire at Gravesend in July 1937. Production commenced at the Company’s facility at Croydon aerodrome, eight aircraft being completed by the end of 1931. One aircraft (G-ABMJ – c/n 4) was fitted with a Fairey-Reed metal airscrew and provided with an endurance of six hours by the installation of long-range fuel tanks so it could be used for long-range flights to Europe.
Later the Company moved to Blue Barns Aerodrome at Colchester, UK and later again to Gatwick. Subsequently the Mk II was built, and then the Sports Redwing, which had a 1.82 m (6 ft) reduction in wingspan for faster cross-country travel, of which only one example was built. A total of 12 examples of the series was built.
One example came to this region, this being ZK-ADD (c/n 7 – ex G-ABMV) which was first flown in July 1933. This aircraft was built for the L.G.O.C. Flying Club at Broxbourne in July 1931 and is believed to have operated with the Eastern Counties Aero Club in Ipswich. Its United Kingdom Certificate of Airworthiness was issued in July 1931 but later the following year it was repurchased by the builders in order to be prepared for export. It was overhauled at Blue Barnes, UK and fitted with low-pressure tyres and larger fuel tanks to provide a range of 805 km (500 miles).
It was shipped to New Zealand from the London Docks on 24 April 1933 and assembled at Wigram on 30 June that year for HT Parry of Hokitika. It was flown on 5 August that year. In 1935 it saw some use with the West Coast United Aero Club but eventually was withdrawn from use temporarily in April 1935. It was not impressed but was gifted to the RNZAF by its owner, Mr GA Green, of Greymouth in February 1939 and taken into RNZAF service in August 1941. It is not thought to have had much use.
It was then allotted to be used as an instructional airframe (INST.112) with the Invercargill ATC Squadron from 1941. It was ferried to Invercargill on 9 February 1942 and used by the ATC during the war, until it was placed in storage. By the end of October 1946 it was broken up and burnt. One Redwing (G-ABNX – c/n 9) survives in the United Kingdom based in Surrey and is airworthy.