Yesteryear

Following the war he would join the nascent Royal Australian Air Force, joining the Flying School at Point Cook, receiving the rank of Squadron Leader, and becoming the service’s first technical officer at headquarters, Victoria Barracks, Melbourne. Wackett realised he needed a tertiary degree to become an aeronautical engineer. In recognition of his practical experience he entered Melbourne University at third year level in a modified science degree and received an honours degree.

Wanting to gain aircraft design experience, in January 1924 he was appointed the RAAF’s Chief Technical Officer, heading the RAAF Experimental Station established at Randwick, Sydney. The initial design was the Widgeon I flying boat, G-AEKB, powered by a 230hp (170kW) Armstrong Siddeley Puma, which first flew on December 3 1925. The Randwick team’s next effort was the more ambitious Widgeon II amphibian with a 400hp (300kW) Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar, notably completing an around Australia flight. Next was the Wackett Warrigal I multi-purpose aircraft and Warrigal II, believed to be the first Australian-built all-metal aircraft.

Wackett also designed and financed the Warbler ultralight aircraft weighing 320kg, powered by a 25hp (19kW) 1,490cc two-cylinder horizontally-opposed Wizard engine which only weighed 34kg.

During this period Wackett served as honorary aide-de-camp to Governor General Lord Stonehaven for five years. His final duty was to fly the Governor General from Sydney Harbour to RAAF Base Richmond in the Widgeon II. Although it demonstrated to Lord Stonehaven Australia’s ability in aircraft design and construction, there were others who were displeased, which would erupt with far reaching consequences.

The British aircraft industry became alarmed at Australia’s demonstrating an independence and ability to design and build aircraft locally. It firmly believed Australia should buy British aircraft and resist the temptation to venture into an area best left to the mother country. The machinations were astounding. Sir John Salmond, the retiring chief of the RAF, visited Australia and echoed the sentiments of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors that the RAAF should purchase aircraft from Britain. In an amazing chain of events, after an announcement on June 24 1929, the Randwick Station was closed citing financial reasons. Furious at this, Wackett transferred equipment and skilled personnel to the Cockatoo Dockyard in Sydney Harbour following a government announcement that seaplane repair facilities would be set up. Fortunately the Chief of the Air Staff agreed with the decision enabling the retention of expertise with the dockyard receiving some RAAF maintenance work.

‘General John Monash asked him to devise a method to accurately drop supplies in the field.’

The Dockyard also performed civil work such as repairs to Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s Fokker F.VIIb/3m trimotor Southern Cross, damaged by ice erosion after the first crossing of the Tasman Sea in 1928 and after damage in a landing at Mascot on the day of the Sydney Harbour Bridge opening in 1932. Impressed with Wackett’s expertise, Sir Charles asked him to increase the fuel capacity of the Lockheed Altair Lady Southern Cross for its historic first east-west Pacific crossing in 1934 from Brisbane to Oakland with Smithy and P G Taylor.

Wackett was also approached by Sir Charles to design and build an aircraft for an airline he wanted to start in New Zealand which emerged as the six-seater Codock, a high-wing aircraft powered by two 160hp (112kW) Napier Javelins. The maiden flight was performed by Kingsford Smith from Mascot on March 6 1934.

During November 1933 the Tugan Aircraft Company was established at Mascot with Wackett as general manager, again using staff from the defunct Randwick Station. An improved version of the Codock, the LJW-7 Gannet powered by two 200hp (150kW) DH Gipsy Six engines, was built with the maiden flight of the first example, VH-UUZ, performed by John Chapman from Mascot on October 12 1935. The RAAF acquired six for air ambulance, photographic and survey tasks.

These events preceded profound changes for Wackett and his role in establishing Australia’s major aviation manufacturing industry, set against some vehement criticism from overseas interests.