The Warrigal I and II were aircraft of Australian origin, conceived by Squadron Leader Lawrence James Wackett and constructed by the Experimental Section of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in Randwick, New South Wales, during the latter part of the 1920s.
These aircraft were single-engine, two-seat biplanes, constructed from a combination of wood and metal materials.
Notably, the Warrigal I was the initial aircraft to be designed and constructed in Australia, in accordance with an official RAAF specification.
Warrigal I
Original 200 hp (150 kW) version designed as an advanced training aircraft with capacity for pilot and instructor.
Warrigal II
Improved 450 hp (340 kW) version designed as an army co-operation aircraft with capacity for pilot and observer/rear gunner.
Specifications
Crew
1
Capacity
1
Length
25 ft 9 in (7.85 m)
Upper wingspan
36 ft 6.75 in (11.1443 m)
Height
9 ft 11.5 in (3.035 m) to tip of propeller
Wing area
377 sq ft (35.0 m2)
Empty weight
2,148 lb (974 kg)
Gross weight
3,429 lb (1,555 kg)
Fuel capacity
40 gallons
Powerplant
1 × Armstrong Siddeley Lynx,
Seven-cylinder radial air-cooled engine,
200 hp (150 kW)
Propellers
2-bladed wooden, 8 ft 4 in (2.54 m) diameter
Performance
Maximum speed
97 mph (156 km/h, 84 kn) at sea level
Endurance
3 hours
Service ceiling
9,000 ft (2,700 m)
Armament
Guns
One fixed Vickers 0.303″ machine gun firing through the propeller arc with a magazine for 600 rounds.
Provision for one Scarff-ring mounted Lewis 0.303″ machine gun in the rear cockpit, with 2 spare magazines (97 rounds each) in the top decking of the rear fuselage.
Bombs
Provision for four 20-pound bombs or one 112-pound bomb for training purposes.
A prone bomb sighting position was included in the rear cockpit.
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.
