Aero engine designed by Archibald Richardson and made by Harold 'Curly' Eagle
Object No. 93/399/1
This engine represents the ingenuity of local constructors in design and manufacture. It was typical of local constructors on limited budgets to design and manufacture their own engines, usually incorporating second-hand parts, due to the high cost of production aero engines. As with this engine, local constructors sometimes used complex rather than simple solutions in their design and manufacture in the hope of maximising the power output, or the efficiency, of an engine. The engine represents an early phase in the development of 'home-built' aero engines. Home-built or home-modified engines for use in aircraft have been a consistent thread throughout Australian aviation history. Although not yet statistically proven Australia appears to have had a more significant use of home-built aero engines than in either Europe or USA. This may be due to Australia's geographical position or the economics associated with production of aero engines or both. The engine was innovative in that it incorporated two unique or rare principles. The use of the rear bank of cylinders to 'supercharge' the front row is rare if not unique to this aero engine. The principle appears to be a borrowing from motorcycle two-stroke engine technology. The other principle was the use of the reaction between crankcase and crankshaft to drive 2 contra rotating propellers. Later high powered rotary engines incorporated a similar feature but the crankcase and shaft were geared together and drove only a single propeller. Contra rotating propellers came into wider use only after the Second World War in limited applications.
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Summary
Object Statement
Aero engine, including transition component, set of spanners and starting countershaft , metal / wood, designed by Archibald Richardson, Australia, c. 1912, made by Harold 'Curley' Eagle, Enfield, New South Wales, Australia, 1916
Physical Description
Aero engine, rotary radial, metal, designed by Archibald Richardson, c.1912, built by Harold 'Curley' Eagle, Enfield, NSW, Australia, 1916 Twin row rotary engine, comprising a transition piece, set of spanners (3) and starting countershaft. The 6 cylinder engine is air cooled and operates on a two-stroke principle. The rear row of cylinders 'supercharge' the front row and the crankcase and crankshaft rotate in opposite directions due to the reaction between the two assemblies. Two wooden propellers are attached; one to the crankcase and and the other to the crankshaft, resulting in the contra-rotation of the propellers. Dimensions Height: 534 mm Width: 534 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
The aero engine was designed by Archibald Richardson and made by Harold 'Curley' Eagle, at his grandfather's workshop at the brickworks at Enfield, New South Wales, Australia.
HISTORY
Notes
The aero engine was fitted to an aircraft built by Les Hankie at his father's joinery at Concord, New South Wales; both engine and airframe were designed by Archibald Richardson. The engine was initially tested in 1916 at Enfield, New South Wales, Australia and the aircraft was transported to Richmond, then the site of the New South Wales State Aviation School, in mid 1918 . On the 21st of June 1918 the Windsor & Richmond Gazette reported: "The small monoplane invented by Messrs. Richardson Bros., and which was being brought to the aviation school at Clarendon for a trial met with an accident whilst nearing the aerodrome. It will take a little time to remedy the damage, and it is then the intention of the inventors to attempt a flight." Apparently the aircraft, when repaired, made one low level flight with Chief Flying Instructor 'Billy' Stutt at the controls. This information came from Mr Roderick Shaw Colquhoun, a student on the Fifth Course at Richmond at the time, who witnessed the flight and passed the information to Mr Ted Wixted of the Queensland Museum in 1982 following on from an enquiry to Ted by Norman 'Bill' Eagle, son of Harold 'Curley' Eagle. On the 17th of July 1918 Mr James Nangle, the Superintendent of the Sydney Technical College which at this time administered the State Aviation School, wrote to the School: "Permission was recently given to Richardson Bros. to use the aerodrome in connection with their flying machine. I desire Chief Flying Instructor Stutt to report whether there is any good purpose permitting use for further term?" In response on the 2nd of August 1918 Billy Stutt wrote: "Messrs. Richardson Bros. removed their machine early this week. I understand they have sold it to Auto Aviation School, Sydney. Consequently it will be necessary for them to use the aerodrome for a further period." Apparently the sale, if Stutt was right, fell through as the airframe, damaged after turning over, was returned to the Concord joinery where it was suspended from the rafters until 1935 when it was taken down and burnt. The engine also damaged in the last accident, was removed to Harold 'Curley' Eagle's house at Strathfield where it remained until it came to the attention of Harold's son Norman (nicknamed Bill) about 1972. The incomplete and damaged engine was rebuilt to running condition over a period of 12 years by Harold's son. Sources: Hayes, Neville F., Billy Stutt and the Richmond Flyboys: The New South Wales State Aviation School 1915-1918 and beyond, (Pacific Downunder, Cowes, Victoria, 2008), p.287f. Meggs, Keith R., Australian-built Aircraft and the Industry Vol. 1, Bk. 1, (Finger Four Publishing, Seymour, Victoria, 2009), p. 127f. Ian Debenham Curator, Transport 2009
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Mr Norman Eagle, Australia, 1993
Acquisition Date
15 November 1993
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