Aircraft

Watson Windwagon

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The original Wind Wagon was built in Texas by Gary Wilson and was based on the Teenie Two and used the similar wing ribs that slipped onto the “C” spar. The fuselage was a tapered tube from the seat backward and from the seat to the firewall. The aircraft was equipped with tricycle undercarriage and a ½ VW.

1981 Watson Windwagon N3765H C/N 147

First flown on 19 April 1977 (N64614), the Windwagon measures 18 feet from wingtip to wingtip and it features all-aluminum construction with pop rivets. The tricycle gear are nonretractable, but the wings are removable for storage or transportation. The powerplant is a 900 cc half-Volkswagen modified engine and drives a four-blade propeller. On just two cylinders tip speed is 110 mph, and climb rate is 450 to 500 fpm. The wing features a Clark Y wing section with constant chord. There are conventional ailerons and no flaps. The fuselage is a conventional semimonocoque structure made from pop-riveted aluminum. Morry Hummel introduced a few changes.

1981 Watson Windwagon N3765H C/N 147

In 1980 full size plans were available for US$50.

Gallery

Engine: ½ VW, 30 hp
Speed max: 140 mph
Cruise: 100 mph
Range: 200 sm
Stall: 40 mph
ROC: 400 fpm
Take-off dist: 250 ft
Landing dist: 250 ft
Service ceiling: 12,000 ft
Fuel cap: 4 USG
Weight empty: 273 lbs
Gross: 486 lbs
Height: 4 ft
Length: 13 ft
Wing span: 18 ft
Seats: 1
Landing gear: nose

Engine: VW, 35hp
Wing span: 18’0″
Length: 12’5″
Useful load: 210 lb
Cruise speed: 100 mph
Stall: 40 mph
Seats: 1

Watley Mayfly III

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It is was the third full size aircraft Bill Watley has constructed since 1945.
The Mayfly 3 is a very large Biplane: each wing is 50 ft in span and height of 10ft. (approx).
The variable pitch propeller is made of blue foam and is 12 ft in diameter, turning at 100 RPM.
Bill Watley constructed the aircraft over a period of three years full time, working almost every day. It had taken at least 6000 hours. The structure is normal commercial pine and white polystyrene covered with Mylar. The cockpit frame for the pilot is commercial aluminium.
All parts of the aircraft were carefully drawn and the dimensions carefully adhered to.
A water level was used at all times to ensure the diagonals were all correct
The Mayfly 3 did achieve flight in Kooralbyn, Australia, after a number of structural amendments, including a redesign of the undercarriage and wheel diameter.

Wingspan: 50 ft
Length: 26 ft
Propeller: blue foam 12 ft diameter

Watley, Bill

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Bill Watley constructed three full size aircraft has since 1945. The first, HM 290 (The Flying Flea) recorded 2 flights at 100 ft, each flight about 2 miles in length. The second aircraft, a Jodel D9, took four and a half years to build (2140 hours) and flew from Gatton, Queensland, Australia, for 15 years (about 1000 hours). The third was the Mayfly III.

Watkinson Dingbat

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The Watkinson Dingbat was a 1930s British ultralight monoplane designed by E.T. Watkinson and C.W. Taylor.

Watkinson Dingbat Article

The Dingbat, otherwise known as the Taylor Watkinson Ding-Bat, was a low-wing monoplane powered by a 30 hp (22 kW) Carden-Ford engine. It had a single-seat open cockpit and a fixed conventional landing gear. It was built at Teddington in Middlesex and registered G-AFJA snDB.100 it was first flown at Heston Aerodrome in June 1938.

It was stored during the Second World War, but rebuilt to flying condition by J.H.Pickrell and D.O.Wallis in 1959.

Taylor-Watkinson Dingbat G-AFJA 22 May 1961

It lapsed again into disuse and was stored at Overton Strip, Hannington, until restored by A.J.Christian, First flying again in early 1974.

After a crash at Headcorn on 19 May 1975, it was rebuilt, and was still registered in 2010.

Powerplant: 1 × Carden Ford water-cooled 4-cylinder piston engine, 32 hp (24 kW)
Wingspan: 28 ft 0 in (8.53 m)
Wing area: 125 sq ft (11.6 m2)
Length: 16 ft 0 in (4.88 m)
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Empty weight: 460 lb (209 kg)
Gross weight: 700 lb (318 kg)
Maximum speed: 90 mph (140 km/h, 78 kn)
Cruise speed: 80 mph (130 km/h, 70 kn)
Stall speed: 39 mph (63 km/h, 34 kn)
Range: 200 mi (320 km, 170 nmi)
Crew: 1

Watkins Monoplane

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Designed by Charles Horace Watkins in 1907 the Monoplane was built at Mynachdy Farm, Maendy, Cardiff, Wales, over the following couple of years. Although it made ts first hops from the farm probably early in 1910 its first real flights came later in the year when it is reported to have flown over Whitchurch, Glam, and in the same year its first cross-country was made to a ridge on the Caerphilly Mountain and back. It was powered by a 40 hp three cylinder engine modified from an Anzani and cast in the Cardiff Railway Works. It is claimed that this aircraft, named the ‘Robin Goch’, made the first night flight over Wales in 1910.

It was flown until about 1918 when it was grounded by a cracked cylinder head. It was stored at Mr Watkins garage until 1959 when it was moved to St.Athan for display where it has since remained.

Mr Watkins died in December 1976 aged 92.

In November 2025 the Watkins monoplane is displayed at the Waterside Museum Swansea.

Engine: modified Anzani, 40 hp
Wingspan: 32 ft
Length: 21 ft 6 in
All up weight: 600 lb
Max speed: 60 mph
Range: 180 miles

Watkins SL-1 / SL-2 Skylark

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Watkins SL-1 NX470E

The 1929 SL-1 was designed by Wallace “Chet” Cummings featuring a laminated plywood-clad, steel-tube, monocoque fuselage. Originally tried with 55hp Velie M-5, the price was $2,950.

The one prototype, NX470E c/n 1, received ATC 2-182 and at least five production models were as built as SL-2:
NC102V c/n 102, N460W c/n 106, N461W c/n 103, NC487N c/n 101, NC11950 c/n 105, maybe c/n 104.

Watkins SL-1 NX470E

The sport design failed to make it in a slumping market.

SL-2 Skylark
Engine: 60hp LeBlond 5D
Wingspan: 37’0″
Length: 23’6″
Useful load: 517 lb
Max speed: 103 mph
Cruise speed: 80 mph
Stall: 38 mph
Sats: 2