1 engine

Williams Third

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After the Aeroplane Geoff Williams immediately commenced building a third aeroplane, a low wing monoplane also powered by a Volkswagen engine. This air­craft largely still existed in 2003 and was stored in Alex Armstrong’s hangar at Taieri in the form of the wings and fuselage. Also stoutly built, it was prone to be underpowered by the tired Volkswagen engine Geoff had two lucky escapes when it crashed due to lack of power. The first was while climbing up the Lindis Valley in Otago when he realised too late that the ground was climbing more rap­idly than his aeroplane, and he was unable to turn because of the proximity of hills ei­ther side. His last flight was at Tarras when the plane crashed on take off, again because of lack of power. He never flew again, but resolved to build a fourth aircraft.

Engine: VW

Williams 70s Aeroplane

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Based on a model and built in the 1970s without official blessing. The aircraft was kept at Wickcliffe Bay, Otago Peninsula, New Zealand, and flown by the builder/owner. By all accounts, the aircraft flew rather well. Built Geoff [or Jeff] Williams. To achieve the correct scale, the builder is said to have sat on a chair and scaled the plans around himself. This was flown from an old wartime emergency air¬strip situated on a farm owned by the Neil family on the Otago Peninsula. Both air¬craft are said to have been soundly con-structed, no doubt the builder’s occupa¬tion having some influence here, but the engine installation, undercarriage and other fittings left something to be desired. The fuel tank in the high wing craft was nothing more than a twenty litre can hung by its handle behind the pilot’s seat. The fuel line a flexible rubber hose pushed over a cooper tube protruding through the instrument panel. When the aircraft re-quired refuelling it was a simple task to remove the can and take it to the nearest service station.
As well as the Omarama incident, the little homebuilt was flown to Cromwell where it landed on the main road. On another occasion Williams turned up at Queenstown in the VW-powered aircraft where he attempted to purchase fuel from a local helicopter operator who refused to cooperate. Apparently he was less than impressed by the craft. I’m led to believe CAD finally caught up with the wayward flyer, confiscating the engine and thus bringing his illegal activities to a halt. For a number of years the aircraft re¬mained dismantled in a shed on the Neil farm until the property changed owner¬ship, when both airframes and the stor¬age shed were destroyed.
Geoff flew this aircraft successfully all over Otago while refusing to register it with CAA. They eventually threatened to pros¬ecute him unless he signed a declaration stating he would never fly it again. During this time he had about 65 hours of flying and many incidents.

Engine: VW

Williams Biplane

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The first machine built by Geoff Williams was constructed by Geoff in the family home in Stewart Street, Dunedin, while he was still at school, but it proved on a number of occasions to be too much of a handful and thus he moved on to the Aeroplane. The biplane was badly damaged in an argument with a hedge before any significant flights had been undertaken, was flown from an old wartime emergency airstrip situated on a farm owned by the Neil family on the Otago Peninsula, New Zealand.

Engine: VW

Williams WACO RTO

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An 80% scaled replica version of the Waco ATO. Construction began in May 1983.
The four wing panels are identical but required 48 ribs built during 1983. Each panel contains 12 truss type spruce ribs, and the 6 foot centre section has nine constant chord ribs. The wings retain the original M-6 profile. The chord of the centre section ribs is 4 ft 1.5 in, and outboard ribs 2 ft 10.5 in. The spars are solid planks, the forward being 5 x 11/8 in and the rear spar 4 x 1 inch. The four ailerons each have six ribs and are equal span and chord. The wings are braced with dual straight 4130 steel outboard struts and N centre section struts, and streamlined stainless steel wires. The fuselage and tail components are welded 4130 with wood formers and stringers in the fuselage and wood fairings at the fin and stabiliser roots.
The tail spans 8 ft 10 in and rudder stands 3 ft 3 in. Rudder and aileron are cable controlled and the elevator through torque tubes. The main undercarriage is a welded outrigger type with Cleveland brakes, and a 5 ft 2 in tread. A Scott 3200 tailwheel holds an 8 inch tyre.
The first flight was in August 1987. Total cost: approx US$15,000.

Engine: Warner Super Scarab, 165-175 hp
Prop: Aeromatic 85 in
Seats: 2
Empty wt: 1085 lb
Loaded wt: 1630 lb
Wingspan: upper 24 ft lower 22 ft
Length: 18 ft
Height: 7 ft 2 in
Fuel cap: 31 USG
ROC 2500 fpm @ 70 mph
Cruise 65%: 105 mph
Stall: 55 mph

Williams Co, Beryl J

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Venice & Pasadena CA.
USA

During 1911-1914, several single and two place open cockpit biplanes were built apparently following the Curtiss design as exhibition ships. Later models with fabric-covered fuselage and rounded wingtips made them quite modern for their day.

The 1911 original had a 60hp Hall-Scott motor and later versions 80hp Curtiss power.

Williams soloed his own creation at Hyde Park Aviation Field (Pasadena CA) on 26 August 1911 at age 19 as the world’s youngest licensed pilot, according to Aero Club of America officials.