Country of origin:

Australia

Description:

Single-seat low-wing sport aircraft

Power Plant:

One 45 kw (60 hp) Cirrus Mk 1 four-cylinder in-line air-cooled engine

Specifications:

History:

The Magpie was a light aircraft built by W F Watkins at Cootamundra, NSW.  Mr Watkins operated the Progressive Garage in Parker Street, Cootamundra and had seen service in the Australian Flying Corps in World War I. He was the holder of a Ground Engineer’s Licence.  In 1931 he was appointed as a representative for de Havilland.

Mr Watkins began design and development in about 1931 of a single-seat low-wing monoplane fitted with a 45 kw (60 hp) Cirrus Mk I engine.  This engine was popular at the time and was built by ADC Cirrus Aero Engines Ltd from about 1925.  The Mk I was designed by Frank Halford and could produce up to 67 kw (90 hp).  The company became Cirrus Hermes in 1931 and became the Cirrus Engine Section of the Blackburn and General Aircraft Ltd in 1934.

Mr Watkins at some stage was assisted in the construction of the Magpie by his brother and Mr C T Hibbert.  It was of timber construction using mountain ash with some metal tube.  It had internal wire bracing and the wings had two solid spars and light frame ribs.  The undercarriage was a wire-braced straight axle type with rubber cord shock absorption and spoked wheels.  The aircraft was completed and painted with a black fuselage with a white wing.

First flight was on 4 January 1932 with Mr William Pittendrigh, a commercial pilot, at the controls and was flown for about 183 m (600 ft) at a height of 6 metres (20 ft).  However, whilst attempting a landing in a nearby paddock the undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft received substantial damage, particularly to the propeller and starboard wing.  The engine was sold, and the aircraft was later sold at auction. The fate of the aircraft is not known.