The Tugan LJW7 Gannet, later renamed the Wackett Gannet after its designer, Lawrence Wackett, was a twin-engined airliner manufactured by Tugan Aircraft in Australia during the 1930s.
This aircraft marked the beginning of Australian-designed aircraft entering mass production and being utilised by the Royal Australian Air Force.
The Gannet, a high-wing monoplane with strut-bracing, followed a traditional design, featuring twin engines housed in nacelles on the wings.
Its undercarriage consisted of fixed main units with a tailwheel configuration.
The wings were constructed of wood covered in plywood, while the fuselage was made of welded steel covered in fabric.
Following flight testing in October 1935, the prototype Gannet tragically crashed, resulting in the loss of the pilot and passengers in a subsequent fire.
Nevertheless, production of the Gannet continued.
RAAF Gannets were used as survey aircraft from 1935 to 1942, after which they were repurposed as air ambulances for the newly established No.2 Air Ambulance Unit.
The final RAAF Gannets were decommissioned in 1946.
Specifications
Crew
One pilot
Capacity
Six passengers
Length
10.51 m (34 ft 6 in)
Wingspan
15.85 m (52 ft 0 in)
Height
3.50 m (11 ft 6 in)
Empty weight
1,470 kg (3,234 lb)
Gross weight
2,449 kg (5,388 lb)
Powerplant
2 × de Havilland Gipsy Six,
150 kW (200 hp) each
Performance
Maximum speed
240 km/h (150 mph, 130 kn)
Range
885 km (553 mi, 481 nmi)
Service ceiling
5,180 m (17,000 ft)
Rate of climb
4.3 m/s (850 ft/min)
Sources Aircraft Pioneer-Lawrence James Wackett. Tiger Moth CT-4 Wackett & Winjeel in Australian Service-Stewart Wilson. Aircraft and Markings of the R.A.A.F. 1939-45-Geoffrey Pentland. Military Aircraft of Australia-Stewart Wilson. Aircraft of the RAAF 1921-1971-Geoffrey Pentland & Peter Malone. Aircraft of the RAAF 1921 – 1978-Geoffrey Pentland & Peter Malone. Aircraft of The Royal Australian Air Force-Air Force History Branch. Understanding RAAF Aircraft Colours-Peter Malone & Gary Byk. Australia’s Military Aircraft-Ross Gillett. RAAF Camouflage & Markings 1939 – 1945 Volume 1-Geoffrey Pentland. RAAF Camouflage & Markings 1939 – 1945 Volume 2-Geoffrey Pentland. Wirraway, Boomerang and CA-15 in Australian Service-Stewart Wilson. Australian Military Aircraft-David Coles. Australian-built Aircraft and the Industry-Keith R Meggs.
