Page 108 - AA 2018_11
P. 108
An Australian visionary
YESTERYEAR
ERIC ALLEN
Lawrence Wackett – the father of major aircraft production in Australia - Part 1
temptation to venture into an area
best left to the mother country. The
machinations were astounding. Sir
John Salmond, the retiring chief of
the RAF, visited Australia and echoed
the sentiments of the Society of British
Aircraft Constructors that the RAAF
should purchase aircraft from Britain.
In an amazing chain of events,
after an announcement on June 24
1929, the Randwick Station was
closed citing financial reasons.
Furious at this, Wackett transferred
equipment and skilled personnel to
the Cockatoo Dockyard in Sydney
Harbour following a government
awrence Wackett was a visionary The Wackett-designed Tugan an honours degree. announcement that seaplane repair
whose drive and determination Gannett. Wanting to gain aircraft design facilities would be set up. Fortunately
saw major aircraft production experience, in January 1924 he the Chief of the Air Staff agreed with
L established in Australia. Born was appointed the RAAF’s Chief the decision, enabling the retention of
in Townsville on January 2 1896, Technical Officer, heading the RAAF expertise with the dockyard receiving
inspired by the exploits of aviation Experimental Station established some RAAF maintenance work.
pioneers and with a strong interest at Randwick, Sydney. The initial The dockyard also performed civil
in mechanical devices, he joined design was the Widgeon I flying work such as repairs to Sir Charles
Royal Military College, Duntroon on boat, G-AEKB, powered by a 230hp Kingsford Smith’s Fokker F.VIIb/3m
March 13 1913. After the declaration of (170kW) Armstrong Siddeley Puma, trimotor Southern Cross. Impressed
war an aviation path followed, joining which first flew on December 3 1925. with Wackett’s expertise, Sir Charles
the Australian Flying Corps at Point The Randwick team’s next effort asked him to increase the fuel capacity
Cook, where in August 1915 he trained was the more ambitious Widgeon II of his Lockheed Altair Lady Southern
on Bristol Boxkites and B.E. biplanes amphibian with a 400hp (300kW) Cross for its historic first eastward
prior to departing for Egypt serving Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar, notably Pacific crossing in 1934.
with No 1 Squadron AFC. completing an around Australia flight. Wackett was also approached by
Wackett’s mechanical initiative Next was the Wackett Warrigal I Sir Charles to design and build an
was noticed after devising inventions multi-purpose aircraft and aircraft for an airline he wanted to
aiding aircraft gunnery, resulting in a Warrigal II, believed to be the first start in New Zealand which emerged
transfer to Orford Ness Experimental Australian-built all-metal aircraft. as the six-seater Codock, a high-
Station, Suffolk to witness aircraft Wackett also designed and wing aircraft powered by two 160hp
construction, prior to a posting to financed the Warbler ultralight (112kW) Napier Javelins. The maiden
No 3 Squadron AFC in France. Aware aircraft weighing 320kg, powered by flight was performed by Kingsford
of Wackett’s inventiveness, General a 25hp (19kW) 1,490cc two-cylinder Smith from Mascot on March 6 1934.
John Monash asked him to devise a horizontally-opposed Wizard engine During November 1933 the Tugan
method to accurately drop supplies in which only weighed 34kg. Aircraft Company was established
the field, solved by designing a carrier During this period Wackett at Mascot with Wackett as general
with a parachute to drop ammunition served as honorary aide-de-camp to manager, again using staff from
ammunition was delivered using this ‘General Governor General Lord Stonehaven the defunct Randwick Station. An
boxes. When over 90,000kg of
improved version of the Codock, the
for five years. His final duty was to fly
Monash recommended Wackett be John Monash the Governor General from Sydney LJW-7 Gannet powered by two 200hp
method during the Battle of Hamel,
Harbour to RAAF Base Richmond
(150kW) DH Gipsy Six engines, was
Following the war he would join asked him demonstrated to Lord Stonehaven first example, VH-UUZ, performed
awarded £300. in the Widgeon II. Although it built with the maiden flight of the
the nascent Royal Australian Air to devise a Australia’s ability in aircraft design by John Chapman from Mascot on
Force, becoming the service’s first and construction, there were others October 12 1935. The RAAF acquired
technical officer at headquarters, method to who were displeased, which would six for air ambulance, photographic
Victoria Barracks, Melbourne. erupt with far reaching consequences. and survey tasks.
Wackett realised he needed a tertiary accurately The British aircraft industry These events preceded profound
degree to become an aeronautical became alarmed at Australia changes for Wackett and his role
engineer. In recognition of his practical drop supplies demonstrating an independence and in establishing Australia’s major
experience he entered Melbourne ability to design and build aircraft. aviation manufacturing industry, set
modified science course and received in the field.’ It firmly believed Australia should against some vehement criticism from
University at third year level in a
overseas interests.
buy British aircraft and resist the
108 AUSTRALIAN AVIATION
