DUIGAN 1910 BIPLANE REPLICA
The Duigan Replica with the build team:
from left to right
Robert Wells
Bill Andrews
Terry Egan - Project Leader
Norman Cook
David Head
Geoff Everett
Photo courtesy of the Miner Newspaper November 25th 2010
from left to right
Robert Wells
Bill Andrews
Terry Egan - Project Leader
Norman Cook
David Head
Geoff Everett
Photo courtesy of the Miner Newspaper November 25th 2010
The Duigan Centenary of Flight, 2010 replica aircraft has been handed over to the now Moorabbin Air Museum to join its "Australian Made" collection for ongoing public display following its 12 month celebrations of the Duigan Centenary year which included a static display at Mia Mia in July 1910, taxiing displays at Ballarat in January 2011 and ground running displays at Avalon Airshow in March 2011, along with displays on the Geelong foreshore and at Geelong College.
The Centenary of the Duigan the first Australian designed and built aircraft to fly in 1910, was celebrated in July, 2010, at Mia Mia in Central Victoria, the district where the aircraft was built and the early flights took place. Other aircraft were flown in Australia in 1909 and 1910, all of oversea's design and construction. A Wright machine from the USA was flown briefly by Colin Defries in Sydney on December 9th 1909. A Bleriot claimed to be flown by Fred Custance in Adelaide on 17th March 1910, that was later debunked as a fraud, and a Voisin which was flown by Harry Houdini and witnessed by six persons at Digger’s Rest on March 21st, 1910 that was credited to be the first powered fully controlled aircraft flight in Australia in accordance with the Australian Air League criteria just seven years after Kittyhawk.
The Duigan brothers, John and Reginald designed, built and flew the first powered aircraft in Australia in July 1910. The flight took place on the family property at Mia Mia in Central Victoria. John Duigan had studied and graduated as an Electrical Engineer in London, and it was later correspondence from a friend in London describing the Wright brother's flights that got him seriously interested in aircraft. At this time Duigan had not even seen an aircraft, but using aviation magazines and text books of the time, he produced a glider that was unsuccessful. This was followed assisted by the the technical skills of his brother, a one half scale glider version of the Wright Flyer that both brothers "flew" in a strong wind with it tethered to a fence and produced good lifting qualities. Following these experiments Duigan commenced the design of his aircraft that was based on the Maurice Farman biplane format, and again with the assistance of his brother he produced an aircraft that was said to be far ahead of contemporary designs in practicality and technology. One technical advance he made in his design was the use of ailerons for lateral control, while other designers were still using wing warping for the same thing. The machine was powered by a 25 hp engine built in Melbourne by J.E. Tilley to Duigan's design.
Duigan's first flight was of only 24 feet and occurred on July 16 1910 and is credited as being the first flight in Australia by an Australian designed and built aircraft.
Over the following years Duigan developed his aircraft with modifications that in each case extended the length of his flights, until he joined the Australian Flying Corps at the outbreak of WW1 and saw combat in France. He was wounded during an enemy attack on his aircraft that set it on fire. He managed to force land his aircraft thus saving his Oserver's life for which he was awarded the Military Cross.
The now Moorabbin Air Museum is proud to have supported the project to build a flying replica of the Duigan biplane as part of the centenary celebrations for this man and his aircraft, that was commenced in 2008 and completed in 2010. Along with a lot of assistance to the project team, the Museum supplied a 1930s Henderson Heath 4 cylinder air cooled upright aero conversion of a motor cycle engine to take the place of the original 4 cylinder water cooled Tilley engine.
The Duigan replica is now on loan to the Wagga Airport Authority and is on display in the Wagga Airport terminal.
Dr Gwynne Duigan, the project patron, Duigan family Archivist and Matriarch, accessed photographs and records from the Duigan Family Archives to allow the establishment of a specialist website to support the Replica construction and fundraising activities, while Terry Egan and a group of volunteers undertook many visits to view the original aircraft in storage in the Museum of Victoria to undertake measurement and photographing of the original to allow drawings to be created. Dr Duigan was later joined by Proffessor David de Kretser A.C., then Governor of Victoria, as Chief Patron of the Duigan Centenary project.
Acknowledgements
CONSTRUCTION TEAM
Terry Egan - Project Manager & Wood Craftsman
William Andrews - General Construction
Norman Cook - Design & Construction
Geoffrey Everett - General Construction
David Head - Plans & Specifications
Robert Wells - Wood Craftsman
SERVICES AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
Ron Stevens - Workshop avaliablity
Russell Morris - Director - Distillery Logistics Pty Ltd, Warehouse avaliability
John Mactier - Director - Distillery Logistics Pty Ltd, Warehouse avaliability
Faggs Mitre 10 - Steel Strappings
Lightfoot Engineering - Wheels
North Geelong Engines - Advice on engine
Reid Bros - Supply of Timber
Ray Goodwin - Patterns
Robert Lange - Machining & metal fabrication
Sinclair X - Ray inspection Services
QBE - Insurance
The Centenary of the Duigan the first Australian designed and built aircraft to fly in 1910, was celebrated in July, 2010, at Mia Mia in Central Victoria, the district where the aircraft was built and the early flights took place. Other aircraft were flown in Australia in 1909 and 1910, all of oversea's design and construction. A Wright machine from the USA was flown briefly by Colin Defries in Sydney on December 9th 1909. A Bleriot claimed to be flown by Fred Custance in Adelaide on 17th March 1910, that was later debunked as a fraud, and a Voisin which was flown by Harry Houdini and witnessed by six persons at Digger’s Rest on March 21st, 1910 that was credited to be the first powered fully controlled aircraft flight in Australia in accordance with the Australian Air League criteria just seven years after Kittyhawk.
The Duigan brothers, John and Reginald designed, built and flew the first powered aircraft in Australia in July 1910. The flight took place on the family property at Mia Mia in Central Victoria. John Duigan had studied and graduated as an Electrical Engineer in London, and it was later correspondence from a friend in London describing the Wright brother's flights that got him seriously interested in aircraft. At this time Duigan had not even seen an aircraft, but using aviation magazines and text books of the time, he produced a glider that was unsuccessful. This was followed assisted by the the technical skills of his brother, a one half scale glider version of the Wright Flyer that both brothers "flew" in a strong wind with it tethered to a fence and produced good lifting qualities. Following these experiments Duigan commenced the design of his aircraft that was based on the Maurice Farman biplane format, and again with the assistance of his brother he produced an aircraft that was said to be far ahead of contemporary designs in practicality and technology. One technical advance he made in his design was the use of ailerons for lateral control, while other designers were still using wing warping for the same thing. The machine was powered by a 25 hp engine built in Melbourne by J.E. Tilley to Duigan's design.
Duigan's first flight was of only 24 feet and occurred on July 16 1910 and is credited as being the first flight in Australia by an Australian designed and built aircraft.
Over the following years Duigan developed his aircraft with modifications that in each case extended the length of his flights, until he joined the Australian Flying Corps at the outbreak of WW1 and saw combat in France. He was wounded during an enemy attack on his aircraft that set it on fire. He managed to force land his aircraft thus saving his Oserver's life for which he was awarded the Military Cross.
The now Moorabbin Air Museum is proud to have supported the project to build a flying replica of the Duigan biplane as part of the centenary celebrations for this man and his aircraft, that was commenced in 2008 and completed in 2010. Along with a lot of assistance to the project team, the Museum supplied a 1930s Henderson Heath 4 cylinder air cooled upright aero conversion of a motor cycle engine to take the place of the original 4 cylinder water cooled Tilley engine.
The Duigan replica is now on loan to the Wagga Airport Authority and is on display in the Wagga Airport terminal.
Dr Gwynne Duigan, the project patron, Duigan family Archivist and Matriarch, accessed photographs and records from the Duigan Family Archives to allow the establishment of a specialist website to support the Replica construction and fundraising activities, while Terry Egan and a group of volunteers undertook many visits to view the original aircraft in storage in the Museum of Victoria to undertake measurement and photographing of the original to allow drawings to be created. Dr Duigan was later joined by Proffessor David de Kretser A.C., then Governor of Victoria, as Chief Patron of the Duigan Centenary project.
Acknowledgements
CONSTRUCTION TEAM
Terry Egan - Project Manager & Wood Craftsman
William Andrews - General Construction
Norman Cook - Design & Construction
Geoffrey Everett - General Construction
David Head - Plans & Specifications
Robert Wells - Wood Craftsman
SERVICES AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
Ron Stevens - Workshop avaliablity
Russell Morris - Director - Distillery Logistics Pty Ltd, Warehouse avaliability
John Mactier - Director - Distillery Logistics Pty Ltd, Warehouse avaliability
Faggs Mitre 10 - Steel Strappings
Lightfoot Engineering - Wheels
North Geelong Engines - Advice on engine
Reid Bros - Supply of Timber
Ray Goodwin - Patterns
Robert Lange - Machining & metal fabrication
Sinclair X - Ray inspection Services
QBE - Insurance