Photograph:
The Gash Birdplane at time of initial testing (Roger McDonald collection)
Country of origin:
Australia
Description:
Single-seat light aircraft
Power Plant:
Henderson four-cylinder converted motor-cycle engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.53 m (28 ft)
- Loaded weight: 397 kg (875 lb)
History:
The Birdplane was built by David Gash of Balaclava, VIC commencing in the 1920s using wings designed to represent the wings of a bird. Construction commenced in about 1929 after he obtained the wreck of a Curtiss JN-4 Jenny which had crashed at Essendon, VIC. Part of the fuselage of the Jenny was used and it was fitted with a Henderson motor-cycle engine converted for the purpose.
Mr Gash was assisted in the construction by Mr Victor Tremayne of Point Cook, VIC and a propeller was constructed by Edwin Lindsay. The undercarriage used motor car wheels. Parts from the Jenny were used in the construction of the wing, which used Spruce, wire and silk in its construction, and had feathers at the tips. The tailplane also had feathers attached. The wingspan was some 8.53 m (28 ft) but when the feathers were extended this increased to some 12.67 m (41 ft 6 in).
Trials were conducted on a farm at Nagambie, VIC. It was found the engine lacked power and the machine itself lacked directional control. It had no vertical tail surfaces. A Cirrus Mk II engine was then installed and further tests were conducted, with a couple of very short flights being achieved. Later, vandals did some damage to the machine, parts were stolen, and the aircraft was retired. Its fate is not known.