History:

Mr Geoffrey Williams, before his demise in May 2002, designed five ultralight (microlight aircraft in New Zealand) aircraft and built four.  He was the son of a former World War II Avro Lancaster pilot and lived in the Dunedin area.  His grandfather was a carpenter and Geoffrey worked for Nees Furniture Makers, and also as a farm hand.  He was interested in aviation and built a number of model gliders during his early years.

The first aircraft, which he commenced to construct when he was 19, became known as the Mk 1, was built in Dunedin and was a biplane powered by a converted Volkswagen motor vehicle engine driving a two-blade wooden propeller.  Building commenced in August 1969 and it was completed by May 1970.  It had a slight resemblance to a Pitts S-1, was a single-seater and was a biplane with a tailwheel undercarriage. It was of wooden construction with fabric covering but was found to be a bit heavy and had a few problems.  It was taken to an airstrip at Hooper’s Inlet, being towed along the road by car and an open hangar was constructed from materials obtained from the Dunedin Training College, the rear wall being made from old doors removed from the defunct Dunedin Fire Station.  It is believed it did not fly successfully.

Construction of a second aircraft commenced in October 1971 at premises at Stuart Street, Dunedin.  This aircraft, also designed and built by Mr Williams, was similar in appearance to a model aeroplane then available known as the Tomboy.  This second aircraft, the Mk 2, was also powered by a converted Volkswagen engine and this could have been the engine which powered the Mk 1.  It was completed in January 1973 and was taken to the Hoopers Inlet strip where it was assembled, making its first flight on 11 April 1973.  It did some flying but, like Mr Williams’ other aircraft whilst he had them in his possession, was never registered.  This was a high-wing monoplane with a tailwheel and is known to have flown at Queenstown and Omarama.  It made a forced landing on 24 May 1973 and another a month later.  On 13 September 1973 it overturned whilst taxiing on Allan’s Beach but was quickly repaired and flown to Jardine’s gliding airstrip near Queenstown in January 1974.  A trip was also made to Five Forks in Northern Otago.

At about this time the New Zealand Civil Aviation Department threatened Mr Williams with prosecution for flying an unregistered and un-airworthy aircraft. A document was signed to the effect that the Mk 2 would not be flown again, the aircraft being dismantled at Hooper’s Inlet in 1977.  At about this time the Mks 1 and 2 were destroyed by fire.

Mr Williams’ third aircraft, the Mk 3, also Volkswagen powered, was constructed at his premises at Highgate Street in Roslyn, Dunedin.  This aircraft was also, when completed, conveyed to Hooper’s Inlet and assembled in May 1977.  Similar in appearance to a Corby Starlet, it was a low-wing monoplane seating one.  It first flew on 22 May 1977 but on the 23rd it had a problem when taking off and sustained some damage.  After repairs it was flown on 31 July 1977 from Hooper’s Inlet to Tarras in Central Otago, a trip of 200 km (124 miles).  However, whilst flying in the Lindis Pass problems arose and the aircraft crashed into the hillside, sustaining substantial damage. It was rebuilt, this time as a parasol wing aircraft, and flew again in January 1979 but further problems arose and it again crashed. The aircraft was retired and the fuselage placed in the Otago Aero Club hangar at Taieri.  This aircraft was also never registered.

In 1988 Mr Williams commenced work on a fourth aircraft, known as the Mk 4, after materials had been ordered from the United States.  This was also a single-seat high-wing microlight design with a Rotax 447 engine installed in the pusher configuration. It also was built in Dunedin.  It was conveyed to Hooper’s Inlet in January 1991 and first flew on 24 January that year.  This aircraft was quite successful. It first flew from the Otago Peninsula and is known to have flown some 250 hours.  It is known to have flown extensively around the lower South Island including to Tarras, Five Rivers and Stewart Island.  It was hangared at Lee Stream near Outram.

After the owner’s demise in 2002 the Mk 4 was obtained by Mr R Gibson of Mosgiel in 2002, and registered as ZK-JPA (c/n 001) on 25 February 2003.  Mr Gibson refurbished the aircraft and brought it up to airworthiness standards, the airframe being stripped and re-covered, the engine overhauled and the struts and undercarriage tubing being replaced with 4130 steel.  It was flown for about 65 hours until sold to Mr J Nicholson of Otautau on 11 May 2004. In 2012 it was still on the New Zealand register, having flown approximately 400 hours.

Mr Williams also designed an aircraft which become known as the Mk 5.  He built a working quarter-scale model 68 cm (27 in) long with a 40 cm (16 in) wingspan. The model indicated the Mk 5 would have been a triplane of all wood construction with fabric covering, with a tricycle undercarriage.  A full-scale aircraft was never completed.