| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Brisbane, Australia |
| Key people | Mike O¹Sullivan (CEO and Founder) John McCarron |
| Products | Aircraft kits |
| Website | www.supermarineaircraft.com |
Supermarine Aircraft is a specialist aircraft kit manufacturer based in Brisbane Australia. Founded by Mike O¹Sullivan and his business partner John McCarron the company manufactures the Supermarine Spitfire Mk 26 which is supplied in kit form and is the only all aluminium reproduction Supermarine Spitfire in production. The company slogan is The Legend Lives On.[1]
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Since it was founded in 1995[2] over five million Australian dollars have been spent on research and development.[1] Pilot and aviation engineer O'Sullivan, who grew up on a cattle station in Queensland, had always wanted a Spitfire and originally built one for his own use in 1991 which generated a lot of interest. After flying the 75-hp, Rotax-powered prototype in 1994, he was joined by business partner McCarron to produce 'home assembly' aircraft kits.[3]
After experimenting with Rotax engined prototypes, they progressed to a Jabiru engine and worked up from the 80-hp Jabiru 2200 to a 100-hp version and the current 200-hp model.[3] After seven years of development the company was able to secure approval for the type in the UK.[4] The company now have Supermarine aircraft approved and flying in many countries and have sold over 92 Spitfires.[5]
The aircraft was reviewed by the Australian Ultralight Federation in 2001. It was approved as meeting Australian rules for kit-built aircraft.[6] Supermarine began promoting the kit plane to the US market in 2004.[7]
The aim was to produce an 'all-Australian' aircraft but the constant-speed, four-blade propeller is actually produced by a specialist firm in New Zealand.[3]
The result is the Supermarine Spitfire Mk 26 which is supplied in kit form and is 80% the size of the original and the Supermarine Spitfire Mk 26B which is 90% scale.[1] The Spitfire kit is produced in aviation grade aluminium using the latest precision engineering computer controlled CNC router cutter to ensure accuracy and has the same power-to-weight ratio as the original.[5] A single-seater was produced called the Mk 25. With electric landing gear and flaps, all models are powered by eight-cylinder, 200-hp Jabiru engines made in Australia.[3]
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