Tugan Aircraft
Encyclopedia
Tugan Aircraft Ltd. was an Australia
n aircraft manufacturer of the 1930s. It was based at Mascot aerodrome, now Sydney Airport
. It is best-known for having manufactured the Gannet, the first Australian-designed aircraft to enter series production.
(RAAF) and Charles Kingsford Smith
as customers. In order to expand the business into aircraft manufacture, Tugan Aircraft Ltd. was registered as a public company on 5 December 1933 with backing from members of the Carpenter family (owners of W. R. Carpenter & Co. Airlines in Papua New Guinea
, later known as Mandated Airlines). The first aircraft manufactured was actually a Genairco Biplane
, this was built using the wreckage of the third Genairco to be produced and was substantially modified, featuring an enclosed cabin and a de Havilland Gipsy III
engine.
Charles Kingsford Smith approached the company to develop an improved version of the Codock twin-engine aircraft that Lawrence Wackett
had designed and built for him while working for the Cockatoo Island Docks & Engineering Company. Tugan Aircraft in turn approached Wackett, who at the time was working for New England Airways
; on 14 March 1934 Wackett agreed to act as a consultant to Tugan to design the new type. The name Gannet was suggested for the new aircraft by Kingsford Smith as a contraction of the names Gannon and Wackett.
In order to expand the product line the company entered negotiations with Miles Aircraft Limited
to allow licence-production of the Hawk
, but agreement could not be reached and none were built. Tugan then proposed building a type broadly similar to the Percival Gull
, to be called the Tugan Aircraft Hawk. Although an advanced stage of design was reached, no manufacturing took place.
The Prime Minister of Australia Joseph Lyons
announced the formation of the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
(CAC) on 19 June 1936, and that CAC would take over Tugan Aircraft. The takeover was effected on 7 November that year and CAC continued the business of aircraft manufacture in the old Genairco hangar until November 1937, when its new factory in Melbourne
was ready.
C3 Hawk
LJW7 Gannet
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n aircraft manufacturer of the 1930s. It was based at Mascot aerodrome, now Sydney Airport
Sydney Airport
Sydney Airport may refer to:* Sydney Airport, also known as Kingsford Smith International Airport, in Sydney, Australia* Sydney/J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport, in Nova Scotia, Canada...
. It is best-known for having manufactured the Gannet, the first Australian-designed aircraft to enter series production.
History
The company was formed in 1933 by Leo Turl and Frank Gannon as Turl & Gannon. Both were former employees of Genairco, which had gone out of business earlier that year; they started offering aircraft maintenance services in the former Genairco hangar and quickly acquired the Royal Australian Air ForceRoyal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(RAAF) and Charles Kingsford Smith
Charles Kingsford Smith
Sir Charles Edward Kingsford Smith MC, AFC , often called by his nickname Smithy, was an early Australian aviator. In 1928, he earned global fame when he made the first trans-Pacific flight from the United States to Australia...
as customers. In order to expand the business into aircraft manufacture, Tugan Aircraft Ltd. was registered as a public company on 5 December 1933 with backing from members of the Carpenter family (owners of W. R. Carpenter & Co. Airlines in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, later known as Mandated Airlines). The first aircraft manufactured was actually a Genairco Biplane
Genairco Biplane
-References:*...
, this was built using the wreckage of the third Genairco to be produced and was substantially modified, featuring an enclosed cabin and a de Havilland Gipsy III
De Havilland Gipsy
The de Havilland Gipsy is a British air-cooled 4-cylinder in-line aircraft engine designed by Frank Halford in 1927 to replace the ADC Cirrus in the de Havilland D.H.60 Moth light biplane....
engine.
Charles Kingsford Smith approached the company to develop an improved version of the Codock twin-engine aircraft that Lawrence Wackett
Lawrence Wackett
Sir Lawrence James Wackett KBE, DFC, AFC is widely regarded as "father of the Australian aircraft industry". He has been described as "one of the towering figures in the history of Australian aviation covering, as he did, virtually all aspects of activities: pilot, designer of airframes and...
had designed and built for him while working for the Cockatoo Island Docks & Engineering Company. Tugan Aircraft in turn approached Wackett, who at the time was working for New England Airways
Keith Virtue
Keith Allison Virtue MBE was a pioneer Australian aviator. Sir Lawrence Wackett, in the Foreword of Keith Virtue's biography, writes that he was an experienced airman himself but he marvelled at the ability and skill of Keith Virtue and counts him as one of the greatest of the Australians who...
; on 14 March 1934 Wackett agreed to act as a consultant to Tugan to design the new type. The name Gannet was suggested for the new aircraft by Kingsford Smith as a contraction of the names Gannon and Wackett.
In order to expand the product line the company entered negotiations with Miles Aircraft Limited
Miles Aircraft
Miles was the name used to market the aircraft of British engineer Frederick George Miles, who designed numerous light civil and military aircraft and a range of curious prototypes...
to allow licence-production of the Hawk
Miles Hawk
-See also:-Bibliography:* Amos, Peter. and Brown, Don Lambert. Miles Aircraft Since 1925, Volume 1. London: Putnam Aeronautical, 2000. ISBN 0-85177-787-0....
, but agreement could not be reached and none were built. Tugan then proposed building a type broadly similar to the Percival Gull
Percival Gull
The Percival Gull was a British single-engined monoplane, first flown in 1932. It was successful as a fast company transport, racing aircraft and long-range record breaker. It was developed into the Vega Gull and the Proctor.-Design and development:...
, to be called the Tugan Aircraft Hawk. Although an advanced stage of design was reached, no manufacturing took place.
The Prime Minister of Australia Joseph Lyons
Joseph Lyons
Joseph Aloysius Lyons, CH was an Australian politician. He was Labor Premier of Tasmania from 1923 to 1928 and a Minister in the James Scullin government from 1929 until his resignation from the Labor Party in March 1931...
announced the formation of the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation was an Australian aircraft manufacturer. The CAC was established in 1936, to provide Australia with the capability to produce military aircraft and engines.-History:...
(CAC) on 19 June 1936, and that CAC would take over Tugan Aircraft. The takeover was effected on 7 November that year and CAC continued the business of aircraft manufacture in the old Genairco hangar until November 1937, when its new factory in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
was ready.
Aircraft
General Aircraft Company GenaircoGenairco Biplane
-References:*...
- one aircraft built using some parts from a crashed example; substantially modified compared to original design
C3 Hawk
- Four-seat single-engine design; none built
LJW7 Gannet
- six-passenger twin-engine airliner; eight built