Country of origin:

Australia

Description:

Light sport biplane

Power Plant:

One 45 kw (60 hp) six-cylinder Anzani air-cooled radial engine

Specifications:

History:

In January 1914 Andrew Delfosse Badgery (1838 – 1910) was appointed sole Australian agent for the Caudron series of aircraft fitted with Anzani engines, forming a company General Aviation Contractors Ltd.  In 1924 his pilot’s licence expired and he underwent further training in 1928 at the Aero Club of NSW, then based at Mascot in Sydney. At that stage he managed to buy back the Caudron C.2 biplane which he had previously owned and used it as the basis of an aircraft of his own design, the aircraft varying from the Caudron, which had been originally built in France, in having re-designed wings without the overhang of the upper wings, a more modern split-undercarriage, and conversion to tractor biplane configuration.

Mr Badgery commenced alterations to the aircraft in 1929 in the basement of the home where he lived in the eastern Sydney suburb of Bronte and work was carried out on a spare time basis, taking more than a year to complete. Only some parts of the original aircraft were used, these including the wheels, lower booms, engine mount and ribs.

The original aircraft was built of Ash, usually only obtainable in Europe, and was not readily available. Spruce was used to build the wing spars, and some parts were built from Blackwood. Members of the RAAF at the Experimental Station at Randwick, NSW assisted with the construction of the wing. Poplar and plywood were also used in the construction of some parts of the wing. Internal bracing was with piano wire.

The nacelle containing the pilot was built from materials available in Australia using Ash and Silver Spruce with wire bracing. The original six-cylinder Anzani engine was used and was bolted to the engine mount, which was constructed of steel. The aircraft overall, as was the norm at the time, was covered with fabric.

Inspectors from the Civil Aviation Board visited the construction site during the building. Stress tests were carried out by TDJ Leech from the University of Sydney. At that time Badgery stated it was a one-off aircraft and no further examples would be completed.

The first test flight of the aircraft was made by Loris L Nall in August 1930 and Certificate of Airworthiness and Certificate of Registration No 405 were allotted (VH-UPH – c/n 2) on 18 November to a Mr Samuel James. The test pilot stated the aircraft answered all controls, had a fair rate of climb, landed and took-off in a short distance, and could be flown hands-off in calm weather. It was known as an ‘Experimental Biplane Tractor’ and was described as similar to a Caudron C.2 but was a ‘sports model’.

However, as the aircraft was only a single-seater, Mr Badgery in 1931 decided to sell the machine. On 12 June it was sold to a Mr H E Wilder. It was shipped by train to his property at West Wyalong, NSW. However, drawings and details of the aircraft were never submitted to the Civil Aviation Board and the aircraft was removed from the Civil Aircraft Register in August 1931. It would seem Mr Wilder had the intention of converting the aircraft for his own purposes, using parts of the aircraft to build an aircraft of his own design. He is known to have built a fuselage but nothing further seems to have occurred and the aircraft was eventually disposed of by fire.