Foster Wikner Wicko
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| Wicko / Warferry | |
|---|---|
| Type | Cabin Monoplane |
| Manufacturer | Foster Wikner Aircraft |
| Designed by | Geoffrey N Wikner |
| Maiden flight | 1936 |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force |
| Number built | 11 |
| Unit cost | £650 |
The Foster Wikner Wicko was a 1930s British two-seat cabin monoplane built by the Foster Wikner Aircraft Company Limited at Southampton Airport, Hampshire.
Contents |
[edit] History
Geoffrey Wikner was an Australian aircraft designer who moved to England in May 1934 and with his partners formed the Foster Wikner Aircraft Company Limited to build a cheap two-seat high-wing monoplane. Low cost was helped by fitting a standard Ford V.8 water-cooled engine instead of an aero-engine. The V.8 was fitted with a Pobjoy reduction gear and was known as the Wicko F power unit. The prototype aircraft was built at the J.F. Lusty's furniture factory at Bromley-by-Bow. The completed aircraft, designated the Wicko F.W.1 was roaded to Stapleford Aerodrome, Essex and first flew in September 1936. Due to the 450lb weight of the motor engine the aircraft needed a long take-off run and had a poor rate of climb.
The prototype was rebuilt as the Waco F.W.2 with a Cirrus Minor I engine. This resulted in a reduction in weight but the price increased from £425 to £650. The second and subsequent aircraft were built at Southampton (Eastleigh) Airport after the company moved in 1937. Nine production aircraft were built designated the Waco G.M.1. Due to the start of the Second World War production ceased and the tenth airframe remained unfinished.
One aircraft exported to New Zealand was impressed into wartime service with the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Aircraft in the United Kingdom were impressed into wartime service with the Royal Air Force who used the service name the Warferry.
One aircraft first registered as G-AFJB in 1938 is still operation with a permit to fly in 2007.
[edit] Variants
- Wicko F.W.1 - prototype with Wicko F modified Ford V8 engine
- Wicko F.W.2 - prototype re-engined with Blackburn Cirrus Minor I
- Wicko F.W.3 - fitted with a Blackburn Cirrus Major engine
- Wicko G.M.1 - production version with de Havilland Gipsy Major engine
- Warferry - military version
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (Wicko G.M.1)
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 23 ft 3 in (7.09 m)
- Wingspan: 34 ft 6 in (10.52 m)
- Height: 6ft 7in (2.01 m)
- Wing area: 153 ft² (14.21 m²)
- Empty weight: 1,255 lb (569 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,000 lb (907 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× de Havilland Gipsy Major 4-cylinder inverted inline piston, 130 hp (97 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 140 mph (225 km/h)
- Range: 480 miles (772 km)
- Service ceiling: 20,000 ft (6095 m)
- Rate of climb: 800 ft/min ()
[edit] Reference
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
- Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 2. London: Putnam. ISBN 0 370 10010 7.
[edit] External links
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