Glider, tail-less flying wing, ‘Twin Plank’ VH-GST, and engineering drawings (63), wood / fabric / paper, made by Reginald Todhunter, Australia, 1958
Made by Glidair Sailplanes in Bankstown, New South Wales, 1958.
Summary
B2422
'Twin Plank' glider and a collection of drawings and prints for its construction.
Tail-less, high-winged aircraft glider comprises an oval-shaped body and a rounded nose. The glider is made of wood and canvas with a perspex covered cockpit area on the roof and sides, which is hinged from the centre and can open upwards. The glider features cream painted wings with a red painted stripe at either end, a cream painted rear body and red painted nose. Underneath the body of the glider is a single landing wheel and on the top exterior is a metal reinforcement bar. The interior of the cockpit is blue painted metal with double seating, two fabric harnesses, controls and dashboard.
Specifications:
Empty weight: 430lb (195 kg)
Wingspan: 35' 6" (10.8m)
Chord (width of wing): 5' (1.5m)
Fuselage length: 10' 9" (3.2m)
Glider ratio: 18:1
Sink rate: 3' 6"/sec (1m/sec)
Tail-less, high-winged aircraft glider comprises an oval-shaped body and a rounded nose. The glider is made of wood and canvas with a perspex covered cockpit area on the roof and sides, which is hinged from the centre and can open upwards. The glider features cream painted wings with a red painted stripe at either end, a cream painted rear body and red painted nose. Underneath the body of the glider is a single landing wheel and on the top exterior is a metal reinforcement bar. The interior of the cockpit is blue painted metal with double seating, two fabric harnesses, controls and dashboard.
Specifications:
Empty weight: 430lb (195 kg)
Wingspan: 35' 6" (10.8m)
Chord (width of wing): 5' (1.5m)
Fuselage length: 10' 9" (3.2m)
Glider ratio: 18:1
Sink rate: 3' 6"/sec (1m/sec)
Production
The glider was designed by Reg Todhunter, Stephen Marton, Milton Lalas and Al Backstrom and it was built by Glidair Sailplanes at Bankstown in 1958. In 1967 it became the first fully approved tail-less sail plane to fly in Australia.
Glidair Sailplanes 1958
Backstrom, Al
History
The 'Twin Plank' glider was successfully test flown by Reginald Todhunter on May 31 and June 1, 1958 at Bankstown.
Todhunter, Reginald 1958
Source
Gift of Reginald Todhunter, 1981
Cite this Object
Glider, tail-less flying wing, 'Twin Plank' VH-GST, and engineering drawings (63), wood / fabric / paper, made by Reginald Todhunter, Australia, 1958 2016, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, accessed 28 May 2017, <https://ma.as/212051>
{{cite web |url=https://ma.as/212051 |title=Glider, tail-less flying wing, 'Twin Plank' VH-GST, and engineering drawings (63), wood / fabric / paper, made by Reginald Todhunter, Australia, 1958 |author=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences |access-date=28 May 2017 |publisher=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Australia}}
This object is currently on display in Store 3 at the Museums Discovery Centre
Incomplete
This object record is currently incomplete. Other information may exist in a non-digital form. The Museum continues to update and add new research to collection records.