Country of origin:

Australia

Description:

Single-seat light parasol-wing monoplane

Power Plant:

One 19 kw (26 hp) Blackburn Tomtit two-cylinder VEE air-cooled engine

Specifications:

History:

In 1931 Richard Sutton, a member of the Queensland Aero Club, indicated an interest in building an aircraft of his own design.  He was involved in the construction of a primary glider with an enclosed cockpit in 1931.  He designed and built a single-seat parasol-wing monoplane at Urban Motors in Ipswich Road, South Brisbane. He had some assistance from a number of associates in the design but built the aircraft himself.

The aircraft used the wing of a primary glider with spars of white ash and had a Gottingen aerofoil section.  It is reported the wing was built to a design by Geoffrey Wikner for a glider to be used for training, which Mr Wikner provided to interested builders in kit form.

This machine when completed was flown by Geoffrey Wikner at Archerfield, QLD on 21 July 1932.  Engine was a 19.3 kw (26 hp) Blackburn Tomtit.  It was found to lack power as the engine could only provide 2,500 rpm instead of the expected 3,600 rpm.  A number of circuits of the aerodrome were made but it took 20 minutes to reach a height of 213 m (700 ft).  Some modifications were made and it is said it handled well.  On 28 December 1932 Wikner carried out three loops in the aircraft but then problems arose as to performing aerobatics in an unstressed aircraft.  Mr Wikner recorded 7 hrs 5 minutes on the aircraft.

Eventually the aircraft was sold to Charles Henderson who at one stage was the President of the Royal Queensland Aero Club who modified it, including the installation of a converted Henderson motorcycle engine. A program was carried out to reduce the weight of the aircraft.  The aircraft was placed in storage during World War II.  The fuselage was later burnt and the wings survive at Murwillumbah, NSW.